Summary: Military drone detection is a dynamic, high-risk challenge, blending technology, tactics, and regulation. As drone threats evolve, so must military responses.
Not all sUAS threats come against the military in foreign states or in conflict zones. The United States and other governments report increased numbers of unauthorized sUAS traveling through restricted airspace over military bases and government installations. Although most of these incidents can be blamed on clueless sUAS pilots unaware of restrictions, they are not all benign. However, it’s just as important to know about the seemingly benign as they may unknowingly cause information leakage.
In 2025, U.S. military leaders highlighted the growing challenges posed by small drones in both base security and warfighting. General Gregory Guillot, commander of NORAD and U.S. Northern Command, reported over 350 drones at more than 100 military sites last year. He noted that some appeared to conduct surveillance of sensitive facilities and called for expanded authorities to counter such threats. General James Rainey, head of the U.S. Army’s Futures Command, warned that small drones are rapidly changing the battlefield, giving adversaries like Russia an edge in UAV capabilities, and criticized the Pentagon for lagging in countering emerging drone and electronic warfare threats. Their statements underscore that while small drones offer tactical advantages, they also create significant operational and security challenges, making military drone detection a top priority.
Clueless or careless pilots flying over Air Force bases and sUAS armed with explosives highlight present dangers, driving rapid advances in military drone detection technology. You may have heard the phrase “army of drones” in the context of the Ukraine/Russia conflict. Both sides have demonstrated tremendous success using sUAS for surveillance and explosive payloads in combat.
Unauthorized drones over U.S. bases aren’t just nuisances—they pose a real safety hazard. FAA-commissioned research shows that drone impacts can inflict more severe damage than bird strikes. Adversary sUAS pilots use sUAS to track troop movement, study tactics, and drop explosives. Simple aerial photography can reveal sensitive information.
Government and military forces stop sUAS threats by detecting and tracking unauthorized drones and their pilots. To achieve this, they use military drone detection systems that employ technologies such as RF sensing to quickly identify sUAS and alert personnel.
sUAS detection systems reliably help thwart threats, but the Department of Defense must also fight differently to stay ahead of rapidly advancing technology and nefarious actors.
The DOD strives for multilayer solutions that eliminate single points of failure in everything they do. Drone detection is no different.
A multilayer RF solution combines detection methods for comprehensive airspace awareness. One layer uses Remote ID broadcasts, required by federal law for most drones. Another uses RF sensing to detect drones that intentionally disable broadcasts, often flown by highly skilled operators. Acoustic detection or other sensors can be added for drones that emit minimal RF signals. This approach ensures both compliant and potentially malicious drones are identified.
Government officials and military troops are constantly on the move inside and outside of their installations. The area of protection can change at a moment’s notice which highlights the need for mobile defenses.
Many military drone detection systems are bulky, costly, and cumbersome—like the one shown here. This removes any element of discreteness and draws attention which traveling personnel greatly want to avoid.
Another complication to mobility is the need for internet connection when setting up a system. This is why it’s important to consider all use cases when evaluating sUAS detection systems.You may need a system that can operate via mesh network.
There are products on the market that solve these issues. Priced to be cost-effective, and designed to be much more discrete, while solving the internet availability issue, these products condense what takes the military an entire truck load into a small package that can be installed on any size vehicle, boat, or other transportation device adding redundancy and reliability to force protection
You may think the US military can use any drone/sUAS detection system they want any time, any where. Since 2018, government organizations including the DOD have had to apply for waivers allowing them to “crack the packet” or use mitigation systems. A small number of government departments can apply to receive waivers from the Wiretap Act, the Pen/Trap Statute, and other laws governing the interference with sUAS. The process to obtain these waivers is rather time consuming, and a new waiver must be obtained when the sUAS detection system is moved from one location to another.
These waivers are set to expire Sept. 30, 2025 per the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024. Many questions remain as to the future and potential expansion of these waivers to more agencies.
Government recognizes the need to regulate commercial sUAS technology but legislation often takes much longer than needed. The FAA requires all sUAS broadcast a Remote ID, similar to the unique number registered to airplanes which helps monitor sUAS activity and track down those responsible for illegal sUAS use.
In addition to Remote ID, military and government agencies deploy multi-layered systems including spectrum sensing or radar detection technologies. Because most drones broadcast Remote ID by federal mandate at the manufacturer level, Remote ID provides a strong foundation for building layered drone detection and airspace awareness.
To learn more about drone detection, read The Ultimate Guide to Drone Detection here.