The success of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in providing real-time information to military commanders has contributed to both mission effectiveness and protecting personnel. The expansion of commerical UAVs can bring about disruptive uses, intentional or not, as well as their use in asymmetric warfare. Combating these potential threats will require a new front in electromagnetic spectrum operations. As a starting point, we can address some of the key issues that will define both the utilization and countering of drones, in terms of some of the broader issues that need to be addressed across both defense and commercial applications. The ability to manage spectrum within current and next generation networks requires an understanding of bandwidth optimization, latency and the underlying economics, underpinned by the use of more complex modulation, phased arrays and other approaches designed to increase spectral efficiencies, which will enable UAVs use and provide strategies to monitor and counteract the use of drones.
