Image: DroneShield
A new global survey has found severe and systemic capability gaps in counter-drone readiness across airports and critical infrastructure worldwide. Many operators lack both the tools and the legal authority to respond to unauthorised unmanned aerial systems (UAS).
Counter-UAS technology firm DroneShield has published the findings in a new industry report, as per a recent press statement. Titled Airspace Under Pressure: A Global Assessment of Counter-UAS Readiness Across Airports and Critical Infrastructure, it draws on direct survey responses from more than 20 operators across North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
Seventy per cent of respondents identified detection capability gaps as a key barrier to effective counter-UAS operations. A further 60% reported lacking the legal authority to take direct mitigation action, even when a threat is clear and immediate. Integration complexity (48%) and training preparedness (35%) also emerged as significant obstacles.
The survey exposed a structural disconnect between stated ambition and operational capability. While 57% of respondents said they pursue full counter-UAS objectives covering awareness, detection, tracking, and response, 17% had no formal plan in place at all. These organisations risk managing a live drone incident reactively, without established procedures or any baseline situational awareness.
Tom Adams, Director of Public Safety at DroneShield, commented: “The primary counter-UAS challenge in 2025 is not awareness of the threat. It is the capacity to convert awareness into authorised, coordinated, real-time action. Technology investment alone will not close this gap. Regulatory reform and operational integration must advance simultaneously.”
DroneShield’s readiness maturity framework places most respondents in either a “Prepared” or “Partial” category. A meaningful minority fall into the “Exposed” quadrant, defined by undefined objectives, minimal capability, and no formalised framework. The report warns that the defining differentiator ahead will be whether organisations act systematically before an incident, or scramble reactively when one occurs.
Find the full report on DroneShield’s website
