DroneShield Report: 70% of Airports and Critical Infrastructure Operators Have Counter-Drone Capability Gaps

DroneShield Report: 70% of Airports and Critical Infrastructure Operators Have Counter-Drone Capability Gaps

DroneShield has released a new global counter-drone readiness survey titled Airspace Under Pressure: A Global Assessment of Counter-UAS Readiness Across Airports and Critical Infrastructure. The report, based on in-depth interviews with more than 20 airports and critical infrastructure operators worldwide, reveals that 70% of respondents identify insufficient detection capability as the primary obstacle to effective counter-UAS operations. Regulatory and legal constraints were also found to significantly limit counter-drone effectiveness.

Lack of Legal Authority: 60% Unable to Take Direct Action

The report found that 60% of respondents said that even when facing a clear and immediate security threat, they lack the legal authority to take direct action against unauthorized drones. Other factors impeding effective counter-drone operations include system integration complexity (48%) and insufficient training and preparedness (35%).

Significant Variation in Operational Objectives

Respondents were also asked to describe their organization's counter-UAS operational objectives. Results were as follows:

• Full capability suite (situational awareness, detection, tracking, and interdiction): 57%
• Detection-focused (partial capability): 13%
• Situational awareness only: 13%
• Undefined or no formal plan: 17%

The report specifically warned: "The 17% of respondents without a formal counter-UAS plan represent a distinct and urgent risk — these organizations will encounter a drone incident for the first time at the moment it occurs, with no established procedures, no clear escalation pathway, and no baseline situational awareness to act on."

Readiness Maturity Framework: Three Key Quadrants

The report introduces a Readiness Maturity Framework that classifies respondents across two dimensions — objective maturity and operational capability — with most operators falling into one of three quadrants:

Prepared: 13 operators have defined operational objectives and moderate counter-drone capability. These are typically larger airports and critical infrastructure operators that have committed resources and established structured frameworks. However, capability gaps persist even in this group. The report emphasizes that being "Prepared" reflects a relative position, not complete capability.

Partial: 5 operators have defined objectives but operational capability has not kept pace with real-world requirements. These operators face the specific risk of plans that cannot be reliably executed with available tools and legal authority.

Exposed: 3 operators have undefined objectives, very limited capability, and no formal framework. In the event of a serious drone incident, they are likely to find themselves in a reactive posture — with no established procedures and unpredictable outcomes.

Conclusion: Proactive Readiness or Reactive Crisis Response

The report concludes that the defining challenge for the coming years is whether organizations can systematically close capability gaps before an incident occurs, or whether they will be forced to respond under pressure and accept consequences they cannot fully control.

The full report — including survey data, thematic analysis across five core capability dimensions, and the self-assessment Readiness Maturity Framework — is now available for download.

Additional Resource: The 2026 Unmanned Airspace Global Counter-UAS Systems Directory is now live. Described as the only continuously updated comprehensive directory of C-UAS vendors and systems worldwide, it covers more than 1,000 C-UAS products and services, including performance details, vendor sales, and partnership information. Updated monthly and organized by sub-sector (net capture, missiles, interceptor drones, sensors, etc.), the directory helps procurement professionals and industry stakeholders track global C-UAS capabilities and market developments. For further information, contact editor Philip Butterworth-Hayes at philip@unmannedairspace.info.

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