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24. September 2025

Drone Detections Face Existential Crisis As Rf Technology Falls By The Wayside

Drone Detections Face Existential Crisis As Rf Technology Falls By The Wayside

The world of drone detection has been turned on its head in recent years, as a significant shift towards “RF-silent” flights has left traditional radio frequency (RF) systems obsolete. According to new data from Dedrone by Axon, over 80% of current drone detections still rely on RF systems, but this foundation is crumbling beneath our feet.

Dedrone by Axon builds products that can monitor airspace and detect unwanted drones in there. The company’s latest report reveals an interesting trend: while RF detection remains the primary method for spotting unauthorized drones, a growing number of drone operations are deliberately avoiding radio signals altogether. This shift towards “RF-silent” flights represents a compelling tactical evolution, but it also poses a significant threat to defense teams that rely on traditional RF sensors.

The war in Ukraine has demonstrated how pre-programmed drones can be deployed without any radio communication, navigating to targets using GPS coordinates, inertial navigation or even visual recognition systems. When these drones go completely dark, traditional RF sensors become as useful as listening for telegraph signals in the smartphone age. This shift towards “RF-silent” flights is not just a tactic, but a technology that’s becoming more accessible.

Modern drone operators have multiple ways to avoid RF detection, and the technology is becoming increasingly sophisticated. Fiber-optic tethers provide a physical connection between operator and drone that’s completely immune to jamming and invisible to RF sensors. While they limit range, they’re good for reconnaissance missions or short-range attacks.

Pre-programmed navigation is another tactic used by drone operators to avoid RF detection. Drones can be loaded with flight paths and targets before takeoff, eliminating the need for real-time communication. Advanced versions use SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) technology to navigate visually, like a drone version of a self-driving car.

Autonomous swarms are also becoming a popular tactic among drone operators. Using AI coordination, multiple drones can operate as a unit with minimal or no radio communication, sharing information through mesh networks or operating on predetermined algorithms. This allows them to overwhelm traditional RF detection systems and evade detection altogether.

Signal Spoofing is another tactic used by drone operators to avoid RF detection. Rather than going silent, some operators feed false information to RF detection systems, making malicious drones appear as friendly aircraft or civilian traffic. This can be particularly effective against systems that rely on signal recognition algorithms.

The power of DIY drones against drone detection systems is also becoming increasingly evident. Dedrone’s data shows a 4.3x increase in DIY drone detections in 2025 compared to 2024. These custom-built platforms often operate on modified or entirely proprietary communication protocols that don’t match the RF signatures that detection systems are trained to recognize.

Unlike commercial drones from major manufacturers like DJI, which use standardized communication protocols, DIY builds can employ anything from modified RC car controllers to completely custom radio systems — or no radio at all. This diversity makes it nearly impossible for RF detection systems to maintain comprehensive signature libraries.

The implications of this shift towards “RF-silent” flights are significant. Traditional drone detection systems that rely on RF sensors will need to be upgraded or replaced with multi-sensor platforms. For its part, Dedrone by Axon, which released the data, makes such platforms.

But what does this mean for organizations that have invested heavily in radio-based counter-drone systems? The challenge will likely only compound as RF detection continues to decline in effectiveness. As autonomous navigation improves and becomes more accessible, more operators will adopt RF-silent tactics.

The future of drone detection is uncertain, but one thing is clear: the game has changed. Organizations that want to stay ahead of the threat will need to invest in new technologies and strategies that can keep pace with the evolving tactics used by drone operators. The era of RF-centric detection is coming to an end, and a new era of multi-sensor platforms is just beginning.

In this new landscape, radar integration is becoming increasingly important. Modern radar systems are becoming more sophisticated at distinguishing drone-sized targets from environmental clutter, but they need to be paired with other sensors for reliable identification. Acoustic detection is another key player, as drones still make noise that can be identified using acoustic sensors. However, even this technology has its limitations, particularly as advances in electric propulsion make drones quieter.

Visual and thermal imaging are also becoming increasingly important in the world of drone detection. AI-powered cameras can identify drones visually, even at night using thermal signatures. But they require clear lines of sight and can be defeated by weather or camouflage.

As the threat landscape continues to evolve, one thing is certain: the future of drone detection will be shaped by a new generation of technologies and tactics. Organizations that want to stay ahead of the game will need to invest in cutting-edge solutions that can keep pace with the shifting tactics used by drone operators. The era of RF-centric detection may be coming to an end, but a new era of multi-sensor platforms is just beginning.

The shift towards “RF-silent” flights has left traditional radio frequency (RF) systems obsolete. As autonomous navigation improves and becomes more accessible, more operators will adopt RF-silent tactics, making it increasingly difficult for traditional drone detection systems to keep pace. The future of drone detection is uncertain, but one thing is clear: the game has changed, and organizations that want to stay ahead of the threat will need to invest in new technologies and strategies that can keep pace with the evolving tactics used by drone operators.

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