As part of its 2003 Symposium, the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) sponsored a UAV Air Demo at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station. The MLB Bat flew a completely autonomous mission, from bungee-powered launch through wheels-down landing. During the mission, the Bat operator was told to re-task the vehicle in flight to provide real-time footage of an automobile accident near the base.

Many high-ranking government officials were among the crowd of over 2000 that witnessed the event, including Deputy Homeland Security Secretary Gordon England. Secretary England said the vehicles on display will aid members of his department as they work to ensure America's port and border security. "This issue of terrorism is not transitory," said England, who served as Navy secretary before taking this post. "Until the (Berlin) Wall came down in 1989, we fought communism for 40 years with the very best technology America had to offer. And we will in a similar situation in regard to terrorism."
In fact, England said he has asked DoD to deploy UAVs with agencies of the Department of Homeland Security. The aircraft will fly along the U.S. southern border. This will allow members of the new department to "gain some experience, some background, some hands on with the technology," England said. "This is a very first step for us as we move into this new area of UAV technology."