At the DSEI 2025 defense and security exhibition, Dedrone by Axon released a new intelligence report, The Current & Future State of Airspace Defense, analyzing detection data gathered in 2025 from its networks across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The report underscores how low-cost, rapidly evolving drone tactics are reshaping battlefields and national security strategies worldwide.
“The drone threat is evolving faster than most defences can respond,” said Aaditya Devarakonda, CEO of Dedrone by Axon.
Airspace Becomes the New Frontline
The report emphasizes that airspace has become a contested frontline where inexpensive, expendable drones can have outsized impact. Unlike traditional aircraft, drones require no runways or large support systems, and they can be launched from trucks, hidden in cargo, or flown remotely from long distances. Recent operations in Ukraine and Israel demonstrate how low-cost uncrewed systems can disable advanced defense platforms, destroy high-value aircraft, or disrupt communications in preparation for larger assaults.
These developments highlight a shift away from a century-long model of air defense built around expensive, crewed aircraft. Drones are not just adding a new layer of threat—they are fundamentally changing the rules of air warfare.
A Growing Economic Imbalance
Dedrone’s data points to a widening gap between the cost of attack and the cost of defense. A single $500 FPV drone can threaten or destroy equipment worth millions, and commercial quadcopters costing less than $2,000 can force militaries to activate high-value interceptors. This economic asymmetry is placing defenders in a losing position, requiring them to spend significantly more per engagement than the adversaries deploying drones.
The report calls this imbalance “unsustainable” unless new detection, classification, and defeat mechanisms are developed. Instead of relying on multimillion-dollar interceptors, defenders must adapt with cost-matched solutions that can be scaled across diverse threat environments.
Drone Capabilities Evolve at Unprecedented Speed
Another key finding is the rapid pace of drone innovation. Attackers have moved quickly from basic quadcopters vulnerable to jamming, to systems capable of pre-programmed navigation, fiber-optic tethering, and swarm tactics. Artificial intelligence is accelerating this evolution, enabling autonomous targeting, adaptive mission planning, and swarm coordination.
Importantly, these advancements are no longer limited to state militaries. DIY kits, 3D printing, and open-source coding platforms make sophisticated aerial capabilities available to insurgents, militias, and even criminal networks. The report describes this trend as creating a “minimum viable air force” accessible to anyone with modest technical skills and a few thousand dollars.
Detection Gaps are Expanding
While RF-based detection remains the backbone of many counter-drone systems, the report highlights a growing threat from RF-silent and stealth drones. In 2025, over 80% of detections still came through RF systems, but operators increasingly use drones designed to mask or eliminate signals, making them harder to track.
This presents a significant challenge for defense forces that rely too heavily on RF-first strategies. The report calls for a shift toward multi-sensor fusion, integrating radar, optical, acoustic, and thermal data into a unified operating picture. Without this shift, defenders risk being caught unprepared by drones engineered specifically to evade traditional detection systems.
Future Defense Requires Adaptability
Looking forward, the report argues that static, hardware-bound defenses will not be able to keep pace with the speed of drone evolution. Instead, the future of airspace defense will be shaped by flexible, software-driven solutions capable of real-time adaptation.
Dedrone highlights the importance of modular, open-architecture systems that can be updated quickly, integrated across domains, and scaled from localized deployments to national networks. AI-powered classification tools and sensor fusion will be critical to distinguish between harmless and hostile drones, reduce false positives, and accelerate decision-making.
Ultimately, the report concludes that success in airspace defense will not be determined by the size of a nation’s arsenal, but by how quickly defenders can adapt.
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Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
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