CENSUS
Securing UAV Communications In Contested Spectrum | RF Threat Defense, SDR Resilience And C2 Integrity
UAV communications face growing RF threats including GPS spoofing, jamming, and signal interception. This whitepaper covers COMSEC pillars, SDR-based attacks, and AI-driven RF security strategies for contested electromagnetic environments.
UAVs depend on wireless links for command-and-control, telemetry, and navigation, making them prime targets in contested electromagnetic environments. This whitepaper from CENSUS examines the RF threat landscape facing military and commercial drones, from GPS spoofing and jamming to signal interception and low-cost SDR-enabled attacks. It breaks down the four pillars of UAV COMSEC-physical, cryptographic, emission, and transmission security—and explores how AI-driven spectrum monitoring enhances real-time threat detection. Backed by real-world incidents from Ukraine, Iran, and beyond, the paper outlines CENSUS's engineering approach to resilience, secure development, and validation for mission-critical UAV platforms operating under electronic warfare conditions.