First - lets
define a drone

A drone (UAV) is and unmanned aircraft flown remotely or autonomously, with no pilot and no passengers on board. UAVs can also be seen as components of unmanned aircraft systems (UASs), which also include ground-based controllers and systems of communications with the aircraft.

  • Remotely or autonomously controlled
  • No pilot on board

Drones shipped in
2024 by application

11.2 million units total

54% Consumer/recreational
29% Commercial/enterprise
17% Military

Reference: UAV Drones Market Size, Share | Industry Forecast to 2034 — marketreportsworld.com, https://www.marketreportsworld.com/market-reports/uav-drones-market-14722242

Drone type usecases

Recreational

  • Aerial photography and videography
  • FPV racing and freestyle flying
  • General exploration/fun flying

Commercial

  • Agriculture
  • Construction & surveying
  • Delivery/logistics
  • Film & media
  • Search and rescue
  • Public safety

Fixed-wing (military)

  • Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) over wide areas
  • Border and maritime patrol
  • Long-range strike missions
  • Communications relay in contested environments

Rotary-wing (military)

  • Close-range tactical reconnaissance where hover/VTOL matters
  • Shipboard operations
  • Urban/confined-area surveillance

"161009-N-PO203-371" by Office of Naval Research (U.S. Navy photo by John F. Williams) is licensed under CC BY 2.0. Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/usnavyresearch/30155582071

Hybrid-wing (military)

  • Missions needing both vertical takeoff and long-range cruise
  • Resupply to forward operating bases
  • Multi-role ISR

"БпЛА Buntar-3 – момент зльоту у VTOL режимі" (Buntar-3 UAV – vertical takeoff in VTOL mode) by YevHo, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:БпЛА_Buntar-3_–_момент_зльоту_у_VTOL_режимі.jpg

Drone detection technologies

HexTech takes a multi-layered approach to drone detection, combining every available technology, such as DRID, RF, radar, acoustic and optical to build the clearest possible picture of what's happening in the airspace.

We integrate third-party sensors alongside our own and continuously test different detection methods, so each deployment delivers the best visibility for our clients.

01 + 02 layer //

Drone transponder detection

Sensor Pilot
DJI Mavic 3 [59.4359, 24.7299]
Drone detected

DJI Mavic 3

S/N: 1581F45T123456789012

Drone location

59.4359, 24.7299

Operator ID

EST6x7d9s0l1m5n3

Pilot location

59.4338, 24.7337

Height

28 m

120 m90 m60 m30 m0 m

DRID //

Direct Remote-ID

DRID refers to Direct Remote Identification, the broadcast-based identification signal mandated under EU drone regulation.

Compliant drones continuously broadcast via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, so anyone with a compatible receiver can read it without a network connection.

DID //

DJI Drone-ID

DID refers to DJI Drone-ID, the identification signal that DJI drones broadcast over their own proprietary radio protocol.

Because the format is DJI-specific rather than an open standard, detecting and decoding it requires receivers built to recognize DJI's signaling.

03 layer //

Radio frequency detection

FPV: Analog

RSSI

-105.5 dBm

Center frequency

2445 MHz

RF detection passively listens for the radio signals exchanged between a drone and its controller, video downlinks, and identification broadcasts like DJI DroneID or DRID.

As a dual-use technology, the same RF sensing that protects an airport or power plant also underpins lawful spectrum monitoring, but it's blind to RF-silent threats such as fully autonomous or fiber-optic-controlled FPV drones.

04 layer //

Radar detection

Radar sensor unit

Radar detection actively transmits radio waves and analyzes their reflections to detect, locate, and track drones independent of whether the drone emits any signal of its own.

The same radar that guards critical infrastructure and perimeter surveillance also serves as traffic control. The downside is that small, slow, low-flying drones can produce a faint radar signal that can be lost amid birds and ground clutter.

05 layer //

Optical detection

This is the layer that delivers a positive visual confirmation. Cameras and infrared sensors, paired with computer-vision algorithms, visually spot, classify, and track drones and capture evidence for identification purposes.

Performance degrades with range, weather, fog, and cluttered visual backgrounds, and it typically needs cueing from another sensor to know where to look.

06 layer //

Acoustic detection

Map with acoustic sensors listening for a drone

Sensors' view Live

Mel frequency bin
120100806040200
Time frames

Acoustic detection passively listens for the distinctive sound signature of a drone's motors and propellers, using microphone arrays to detect and roughly localize threats including RF-silent drones and autonomous drones with their own sensors.

With the right machine learning models, the same acoustic sensing extends well beyond drones to detect other threats, such as Shaheds, fighter jets, and other military activity by acoustic signature.

Drone operation, detection and mitigation
rules and laws in the EU

Operational rules

  • Max altitude: 120 m above ground.
  • Drone must remain within visual line of sight.
  • Register if required: Most drones ≥250 g or with cameras require operator registration.
  • Respect no-fly zones: Check national airspace maps before every flight.
  • Rules are EU-wide: EASA regulations apply across member states, with some local restrictions.

Detection

  • Detecting, tracking and identifying drones is legal and does not require aviation authorization.
  • Privacy and data protection rules that stem from GDPR govern any imagery of identifiable people.
  • Active radars require licensing/emission licensing.
  • Passive detection with no signal emission (spectrum monitoring and signal interception) typically requires no license.

Mitigation

  • Authority-Based Response: Countermeasures require explicit legal authorization in most jurisdictions.
  • Critical Infrastructure Protection: Coordinate responses with aviation, police, or security authorities.
  • Risk Assessment Required: Evaluate threat, location, and potential harm before intervention.
  • Incident Reporting: Document actions, decisions, and outcomes for regulatory review.