Resources

For years, drones have been positioned as powerful standalone tools. Flying cameras that could quickly give eyes in the sky, reduce response times, and reach places humans or vehicles could not. That phase is now clearly behind us.

The next phase of the drone industry is not about drones alone. It is about situational awareness. And more specifically, about how drones become one sensor in a much larger, connected ecosystem that delivers a real-time operational picture to the people who need it most.

Drones as part of a sensor network

In public safety, security, and critical infrastructure operations, a single data source is rarely sufficient. A drone video feed is valuable, but only when it is understood in context. What else is happening in the airspace? What is the situation on the ground? What risks are present, and how are they changing in real time?

Modern drone operations are therefore increasingly combined with airspace integration sensors such as Remote ID, ADS-B In, UTM systems, and C-UAS detection platforms. These provide continuous awareness of cooperative and non-cooperative air traffic, enabling operators to safely integrate drones into complex and often congested environments.

At the same time, local environmental and risk data is becoming just as critical. Live weather inputs, wind conditions, and ground-risk data such as real-time population density influence whether an operation is safe, legal, and effective. Without this context, even the best drone technology becomes operationally fragile.

Beyond the air: Multi-domain sensing

What makes this shift truly transformative is that drones are no longer the only mobile sensors in the field.

Public safety and security organizations increasingly rely on a mix of technologies: fixed CCTV cameras, body-worn cameras, vehicle-mounted systems such as ALPR, and an expanding range of ground, water, and subsea robotics. These platforms carry cameras, microphones, and other sensors that generate valuable but often fragmented data streams.

Individually, these systems already exist in most organizations. The challenge has never been data collection. The challenge has been making sense of all that data at once, under time pressure, during an incident.

One operational picture, not ten dashboards

This is where the industry is fundamentally changing.

Instead of operating drones, cameras, sensors, and robotic systems in isolation, organizations are moving toward a single, fused situational awareness picture. A real-time view that combines airspace data, sensor feeds, operational context, and risk information into one coherent operational layer.

With AirHub, this information is brought together into a single pane of glass experience. Drone telemetry, video feeds, airspace awareness, C-UAS detections, and data from other sensor platforms are merged into one operational environment. Not as separate dashboards, but as one integrated view that reflects the actual situation on the ground and in the air.

A force multiplier for public safety and security

For public safety and security organizations, the impact of this shift is significant.

When responders have access to a fused, real-time operational picture, they can act faster and with greater confidence. Decisions are no longer based on partial information or delayed reports, but on live, validated data from multiple sources. This reduces uncertainty, improves coordination between teams, and lowers operational risk.

In practice, this means faster incident response, better prioritization of resources, and safer operations for personnel in the field. It also enables organizations to scale their operations, using technology as a true force multiplier rather than an additional layer of complexity.

From tools to capabilities

The drone industry is maturing. The value no longer lies in individual platforms or sensors, but in the capability created by combining them.

Drones are no longer just flying cameras. They are becoming an integral part of a broader, multi-domain sensing and decision-support ecosystem. Organizations that embrace this shift will move beyond isolated tools and toward true, real-time situational awareness.

That is the next phase of the industry. And it is already unfolding.

As 2025 came to a close and the new year began, regulators around the world continued to push forward with drone integration, airspace modernization, and stakeholder engagement. In this edition, we cover key updates from EASA, FAA, CASA, ANAC and others - ranging from national drone strategies and safety campaigns to new U-space consultations, updated training requirements, and enforcement during wildfire emergencies.

Catch up on what’s happening across EMEA, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific, as well as the latest developments from global standardization bodies.

EMEA – Regulatory Updates & News

• EASA and DJI Partner on Safe Drone Use – EASA and DJI launch a new joint effort to raise awareness among drone users about flying legally and safely in European airspace. Read more

• EPAS 2026 Released – EASA published the 2026 edition of the European Plan for Aviation Safety, setting key priorities for innovation and safety management, including uncrewed systems. Read more

• New UAS Airspace Rules in Finland – Traficom released OPS M1-29-2026 introducing new airspace structures and zones for UAS, enhancing situational awareness and risk management. Read more

• Denmark Publishes Draft National Drone Strategy – The Danish Civil Aviation Authority opened a stakeholder consultation on its strategy for integrating drones into Danish airspace. Read more

• Germany Highlights Use Cases for Public Services – The LBA shares insights from the FAST-Flight project and UAS applications in support of German emergency services (BOS). Read more - FASTFlight | Read more - BOS

• UK Civil Aviation Authority Urges Public to Review Drone Rules – With growing drone adoption, the CAA calls on new and existing users to familiarise themselves with regulatory updates. Read more

• EASA Launches Survey on Training in Specific Category – EASA invites input on qualifications and training needs for operations in the Specific Category. Read more

• Spain: Over 150,000 Registered Drone Operators in 2025 – AESA reports strong growth in drone operator registrations and urges preparedness for 2026 regulatory changes. Read more

• STS-ES Scenarios Expire – Spain confirms that national standard scenarios (STS-ES) will no longer be valid from 2026. Read more

• Italy Launches U-Space Regulation Consultation – ENAC seeks feedback on its U-space regulatory draft, aiming to align national efforts with EU frameworks. Read more

• UAE GCAA Continues Regulatory Push – The UAE continues to build out its UTM and UAS ecosystem with further developments announced by the GCAA. Read more

Americas – Regulatory Updates & News

• FAA and FBI Announce No-Drone Zones for Super Bowl LX – The agencies outlined strict enforcement zones to ensure public safety at the major sports event. Read more

• FAA Leadership Presents New Initiatives – FAA Administrator Bedford and Secretary Duffy announce plans for accelerating integration and oversight of uncrewed aviation. Read more

• Brazil Uses Starlink and Drones for Inspection – Brazil’s ANAC incorporates drones and satellite comms into remote inspection and surveillance operations. Read more

• Chile Bans Drones During Wildfires – Chile’s DGAC reaffirms drone restrictions during active wildfire response to safeguard manned aviation and firefighting efforts. Read more

• Peru Uses Drones for Spectrum Monitoring – Peru’s Ministry of Transport deploys drones to detect illegal radio signals and improve spectrum enforcement. Read more

Asia-Pacific – Regulatory Updates & News

• China Updates RPAS Roadmap – CAAC continues to refine national frameworks for uncrewed aviation integration. Read more

• CASA Publishes RPAS News for December and January – Updates include new resources, policy developments, and insight into drone operations over people. Read more - Jan | Read more - Dec

• Australia Trials New Training Pathways for Medium RPAs – CASA launches trial projects to evaluate future RPAS licensing structures. Read more

• CASA Simplifies Drone Flights Over People – CASA is working on revised policies to make compliant operations over people easier to manage. Read more

• Japan MLIT Continues UAS Regulatory Development – Japan’s MLIT shares updates on ongoing efforts to enhance UAS governance. Read more

Standardization Bodies – Regulatory Updates & News

• EUROCAE Opens Consultation on ED-334A and ED-348 – Industry feedback is requested on two updated standards for RPAS detect-and-avoid (ED-334A) and test scenarios (ED-348).

Read more – ED-334A | Read more – ED-348

We will continue tracking these developments closely as 2026 unfolds—with particular attention to U-space rollouts, SORA 2.5 adoption, and the evolving training, certification, and safety requirements impacting both commercial and government drone operators.

Have a regulatory update we missed? Let us know. → www.airhub.app/consultancy

As drones become more accessible and widely used, airspace users and asset owners increasingly need to understand what is flying around them. This has driven rapid growth in drone detection systems, often grouped under the broader term Counter-UAS. Yet many discussions blur important distinctions: detection versus mitigation, detection versus classification, and tactical versus strategic use.

This blog unpacks the main types of drone detection systems, explains where each works best, and highlights their strengths and limitations.

Detection Versus Mitigation: A Critical Distinction

Before diving into technologies, it’s important to separate two fundamentally different capabilities.

Drone detection systems aim to identify that a drone is present, determine where it is, and ideally understand what type of drone it is. These systems provide awareness and support decision-making.

Drone mitigation systems actively interfere with a drone, for example through jamming, takeover, or kinetic means. These actions are typically heavily restricted or reserved for state authorities due to safety, legal, and liability concerns.

Most organisations, including critical infrastructure operators and public agencies, are focused first and foremost on detection and situational awareness. Without reliable detection and classification, mitigation is either impossible or unsafe.

Detection Versus Classification

Detection alone answers the question: is there something flying here?

Classification answers a more nuanced question: what is it?

A robust system ideally supports both:

• Detection identifies an object or signal that could be a drone
• Classification determines whether it is a drone, which type, and whether it is likely compliant or non-cooperative

Not all technologies support both equally, which is one of the key trade-offs discussed below.

Radar-Based Drone Detection

Radar systems detect objects by emitting radio waves and analysing reflections. They are widely used in traditional aviation and have been adapted for low-altitude drone detection.

Radar is particularly effective for:

• Wide-area surveillance
• Detecting drones regardless of RF emissions
• Operations in darkness or poor visibility

However, radar systems face challenges at low altitude. Small drones have a limited radar cross-section, making them harder to distinguish from birds, vehicles, or clutter. As a result, radar often provides strong detection capability, but limited classification without support from other sensors.

Radar is most suitable for:

• Airports and large industrial sites
• Border and coastal surveillance
• Areas where long-range early warning is required

RF-Based Drone Detection

RF detection systems monitor the radio spectrum for signals between drones and their controllers. When a drone communicates using known protocols, RF sensors can often identify:

• The presence of a drone
• Its manufacturer or model family
• Sometimes the position of the drone and pilot

RF detection excels at classification for commercially available drones using standard control links. It is passive, meaning it does not emit signals itself, which is advantageous in sensitive environments.

Its limitations become apparent when:

• Drones fly autonomously without an active control link
• Encrypted or non-standard frequencies are used
• Signal reflections or urban interference reduce accuracy

RF systems are well suited for:

• Urban environments
• Security perimeters
• Monitoring compliance around restricted zones

Electro-Optical and Infrared Systems

Visual detection uses cameras, often combined with AI-based image recognition, to spot drones directly.

Electro-optical cameras operate in visible light, while infrared systems detect heat signatures. Together, they can:

• Visually confirm the presence of a drone
• Support classification and tracking
• Provide evidential imagery

These systems perform best when they are cuing systems, meaning they are directed to a specific area by another sensor such as radar or RF. On their own, wide-area scanning is difficult and computationally expensive.

Their main constraints are:

• Weather and lighting conditions
• Line-of-sight requirements
• Limited range compared to radar

Visual systems are most effective for:

• Perimeter security
• Critical infrastructure protection
• Situational confirmation after initial detection

Acoustic Drone Detection

Acoustic systems identify drones based on their sound signature. They use microphone arrays and pattern recognition to detect and sometimes classify drones.

Acoustic detection can be valuable in:

• Very low-altitude environments
• Areas with restricted RF emissions
• Situations where visual line of sight is obstructed

However, acoustic systems are highly sensitive to ambient noise, wind, and terrain. Their effective range is relatively short, and false positives can occur in noisy environments.

As a result, acoustic detection is typically used as a supplementary sensor, rather than a primary detection method.

Why Multi-Sensor Fusion Matters

No single detection technology is sufficient on its own. Each has blind spots, and each performs differently depending on environment, weather, and threat profile.

Modern drone detection architectures increasingly rely on sensor fusion, combining:

• Radar for wide-area detection
• RF for identification and classification
• Visual and infrared sensors for confirmation and tracking
• Acoustic sensors for close-range awareness

By correlating inputs, systems reduce false alarms and improve confidence. This layered approach is particularly important in complex environments such as ports, industrial sites, and urban areas.

Detection in the Context of Airspace Awareness

Drone detection systems do not operate in isolation. In many operational contexts, especially public safety and critical infrastructure, detection must be integrated with:

• Drone enablement systems for authorised operations
• UTM or U-space services providing cooperative traffic information
• Procedures for escalation, coordination, and response

Detection systems primarily address non-cooperative traffic: drones that are not visible in UTM systems or are operating outside authorisation. When combined with cooperative traffic data, organisations can build a far more complete picture of the lower airspace.

How AirHub Fits Into This Picture

At AirHub, we see drone detection as one element of a broader airspace awareness and governance challenge.

Through our Drone Operations Platform, we integrate data from UTM and U-space services and support integrations with drone detection systems. This allows operators and authorities to distinguish between authorised drone traffic and unknown or potentially non-compliant activity.

From a consultancy perspective, we support organisations in:

• Selecting appropriate detection technologies for their operational context
• Defining procedures for detection, escalation, and coordination
• Integrating detection capabilities into regulatory frameworks, including SORA and operational authorisations
• Aligning detection strategies with legal constraints on mitigation

Rather than treating detection as a standalone technical problem, we help organisations embed it into safe, compliant, and scalable operational concepts.

Closing Thoughts

Drone detection is not about choosing the “best” sensor. It is about understanding what you need to detect, where, and why. Radar, RF, visual, and acoustic systems all have a role to play, but only when deployed with a clear operational concept and regulatory awareness.

As drone traffic continues to increase, organisations that combine detection, cooperative traffic services, and strong operational governance will be best positioned to manage the lower airspace safely and effectively.

If you’re exploring how drone detection fits into your broader drone or airspace strategy, our team at AirHub is happy to support both technically and operationally.