HomeMy WebLinkAboutLTC 248-2026 Miami Beach Police Department Receives DHS Grant For C-UAS TechnologyMIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
LTC#248-2026
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
LETTER TO COMMISSION
Honorable Mayor Steven Meiner and Members of the City Commission
Eric Carpenter, City Manager � �
June 10, 2026
Miami Beach Police Department Receives DHS Grant For C-UAS Technology
The purpose of this Letter to Commission (L TC} is to inform the Mayor and City Commission that the Administration has executed a grant agreement with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (OHS). Under this agreement, the Miami Beach Police Department (MBPD) will receive $2,597,660 to acquire Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (C-UAS) detection, tracking, identifying, monitoring, and mitigation technologies to enhance the Department's ability to safeguard public safety and critical infrastructure from the unlawful or malicious use of UAS, particularly in anticipation of upcoming FIFA-related events.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 Miami Host Committee is preparing for seven (7) matches at Hard Rock
Stadium and numerous associated events throughout the region. As the world's most-watched
sporting event, FIFA is expected to bring more than one million visitors to South Florida. This influx
will significantly heighten the risk of criminal activity across the region, including within the City of Miami Beach. Although the matches will occur in the City of Miami Gardens and the official FIFA
Fan Festival in the City of Miami, the City of Miami Beach will serve as a major hub for visitors and
play a central role in hosting and supporting this global event, consistent with past major sporting,
art, and cultural activations.
To support the City's preparedness and overall public safety efforts, MBPD is acquiring essential equipment that will enable the Department to effectively detect, track, identify, and mitigate UAS
threats across key venues, particularly during FIFA World Cup 2026. Unauthorized drone activity can include incursions over critical infrastructure, attempts to conduct illicit deliveries or pre-event surveillance, and other general risks during large gatherings.
This grant provides MBPD with new capabilities essential to enhance the City's preparedness, protection, and response against UAS-related threats. The systems procured through this funding will serve as a long-term public safety asset, yielding benefits well beyond the FIFA World Cup 2026. While no equivalent systems currently exist within the City, this technology will complement and enhance existing security infrastructure, creating a more permanently integrated and resilient security ecosystem.