Ofcom Drone Detection Radar Licence: What It Means for UK Drone Security
What has Ofcom announced?
Ofcom has published proposals under a consultation called Enabling drone innovation and security.
The consultation was published on 16 July 2026 and remains open until 30 September 2026.
The proposals cover both drone control spectrum and drone detection radar.
In simple terms, Ofcom is looking at:
New spectrum access for drone control links
Longer-distance and BVLOS drone operations
Backup communications where mobile coverage is limited
New drone detection radar licensing
Future spectrum needs for drone control, safety and detection
This matters because spectrum is the invisible infrastructure that allows drones, control links, safety systems and detection technologies to work reliably.
The drone itself is only one part of the operation.
Behind every serious drone deployment there is a need for safe communications, control, awareness and, increasingly, detection.
The new drone detection radar licence
The most security-focused part of the announcement is Ofcom’s proposed new licence for drone detection radar.
Ofcom is proposing to authorise drone detection radar in two bands:
24 GHz, specifically 24.05 to 24.25 GHz
16 GHz, specifically 15.4 to 16.6 GHz
The 16 GHz authorisation would require case-by-case coordination with the Ministry of Defence.
This is important because drone detection systems often rely on radar as part of a wider counter-drone or site awareness solution.
Radar can help detect objects in the air and provide early warning of activity around a sensitive site.
That does not mean every site will immediately install radar.
It means Ofcom is proposing a clearer licensing route for organisations that need to use this type of technology lawfully and safely.
Why prisons, airports and power stations are mentioned
Ofcom specifically mentions prisons, power stations and airports because these are examples of sites where unauthorised drone activity can create serious risks.
At prisons, drones can be used for smuggling, surveillance or attempts to support criminal activity.
At airports, drone incursions can disrupt operations and create safety concerns.
Around power stations and other critical infrastructure, drones may be used for unauthorised surveillance, interference, mapping or hostile reconnaissance.
These sites need to know what is happening in the airspace immediately around them.
That requires detection.
A drone cannot be managed, challenged or responded to if the site does not know it is there.
Detection is different from jamming
This distinction is very important.
Drone detection is not the same as drone defeat.
A radar or detection system may help identify that a drone is present.
It may help show its direction, movement or location.
It may support early warning and response.
But that is not the same as interfering with the drone, taking control of it, jamming it or bringing it down.
In the UK, counter-drone response is a sensitive legal and operational area. Organisations should not assume that detecting a drone gives them the right to interfere with it.
For most sites, the first step is awareness:
Can we detect the drone?
Can we understand where it is?
Can we assess whether it is a threat?
Can we alert the right people?
Can we preserve evidence?
Can we follow the correct escalation process?
Ofcom’s proposal is about authorising the spectrum use for drone detection radar.
It is not a blanket permission for private organisations to jam or disable drones.
Why this matters for critical infrastructure
Critical infrastructure sites increasingly need to think about low-altitude airspace.
Historically, site security has focused heavily on fences, gates, CCTV, access control, patrols and ground-based intrusion.
Drones change that picture.
A drone can approach from above.
It can cross a perimeter without touching a fence.
It can observe from outside the site boundary.
It can carry a camera, payload or other equipment.
It can appear quickly and leave quickly.
That does not mean every drone near a site is hostile. Many drones are used legally and professionally for inspection, survey, emergency response, media work and infrastructure monitoring.
But sensitive sites need the ability to distinguish legitimate activity from suspicious activity.
That is why drone detection is likely to become a bigger part of security planning.
This is not just about stopping drones
One of the most interesting parts of Ofcom’s consultation is that it is not only about hostile drones.
It is also about enabling legitimate drone innovation.
Ofcom says drones have significant potential across sectors including infrastructure, logistics, emergency response and public safety. It also notes that BVLOS use cases often rely on mobile networks for primary command and control, but may need backup spectrum where mobile coverage is limited.
That matters because the UK cannot develop advanced drone operations without the communications infrastructure to support them.
If drones are to be used for:
Infrastructure inspection
Emergency response
Public safety
Medical logistics
Powerline inspection
Wind farm inspection
Remote site monitoring
Long-distance operations
BVLOS missions
then operators need reliable command, control and safety communications.
Ofcom’s work recognises that spectrum access is part of making those operations possible.
Additional spectrum for drone control links
Ofcom is proposing two additional spectrum routes for drone control links.
The first is access to 450 MHz for drone control links using three-year fixed-term licences, with frequencies between 453 and 462.5 MHz shared with business radio. Ofcom says this band would mainly be available in remote and rural areas.
The second is access to part of the 5030 to 5091 MHz band until 2032, with Ofcom’s preferred option being 5040 to 5060 MHz. Ofcom says this has good availability across the UK.
This is relevant because different drone use cases may need different communications approaches.
A drone flying at close range for a simple visual inspection does not have the same communications requirement as a BVLOS drone operating over longer distances.
As the industry develops, spectrum planning becomes more important.
Why this matters for BVLOS operations
BVLOS stands for Beyond Visual Line of Sight.
These are operations where the remote pilot cannot directly see the drone with unaided vision throughout the flight.
BVLOS is one of the biggest growth areas in the drone industry because it enables more useful long-distance and remote operations.
Examples include:
Powerline inspection
Pipeline inspection
Rail corridor monitoring
Emergency response
Search and rescue support
Medical delivery
Remote infrastructure inspection
Dock-based drone operations
Large estate or perimeter monitoring
Industrial site checks
But BVLOS places higher demands on communications, safety systems, detect-and-avoid, procedures and operational authorisation.
Ofcom’s consultation is relevant because it looks at the spectrum side of that picture.
The CAA regulates how drones operate in the air. Ofcom regulates the radio equipment and spectrum used by drones and drone detection systems. Ofcom makes this split clear in its notes, explaining that the CAA is responsible for regulating drone use while Ofcom authorises radio communications equipment used on drones and for drone detection.
For serious drone operations, both matter.
A stronger framework for safe drone growth
The UK drone sector needs two things at the same time.
It needs freedom to innovate.
It also needs public confidence.
That means enabling useful drone operations while managing risk properly.
Ofcom’s proposals point towards a more mature drone ecosystem where:
Commercial drones can access more appropriate communications spectrum
BVLOS operations can be supported more effectively
Sensitive sites can use licensed detection radar
Drone security becomes part of infrastructure planning
Public safety and emergency response use cases can develop
Industry can provide input into future spectrum needs
This is positive for the industry.
It shows that drones are being treated as part of national infrastructure, not just as flying cameras.
What this means for airports
Airports are one of the most obvious environments where drone detection matters.
An unauthorised drone near an airport can cause disruption and safety concerns.
Drone detection radar could help airports improve early warning and situational awareness around their airspace.
However, airport drone security is not simply a matter of buying a detection system.
It requires:
Clear escalation procedures
Coordination with police and aviation stakeholders
Defined response plans
Integration with existing security systems
Understanding of legal powers
Evidence capture
Staff training
False positive management
Maintenance and testing
Detection is only valuable if the organisation knows what to do with the information.
What this means for prisons
Prisons have faced drone-related security issues for several years, particularly around attempts to smuggle contraband.
Drone detection can help identify suspicious activity around the prison estate.
This could support:
Perimeter awareness
Early warning
Incident response
Evidence capture
Pattern analysis
Coordination with police
Improved security planning
Again, the key point is that detection must sit within a proper security workflow.
A radar alert on its own is not enough.
The site needs people, procedures, evidence handling and escalation routes.
What this means for power stations and critical infrastructure
Power stations, utilities, water sites, telecoms assets, industrial facilities and other critical infrastructure locations may need to think more seriously about aerial security.
Many of these sites already use drones legitimately for inspection and monitoring.
That creates a balancing act.
A site may want to allow authorised drone operations while identifying unauthorised or suspicious activity.
That means future drone security may need to distinguish between:
Approved inspection flights
Emergency response drones
Contractor drone operations
Police or fire drone activity
Unknown recreational drones
Suspicious or hostile drone activity
This is where detection, identification, planning and coordination become important.
Legitimate drones need to be part of the conversation
It is important not to frame all drones as a threat.
Drones are already delivering real value across the UK.
Ofcom itself points to examples including Amazon’s planned drone parcel deliveries in the Darlington area, NHS blood delivery trials in London and Northumbria, and Royal Mail deliveries in the Orkney Islands.
That is the direction of travel.
Drones will be used more widely for inspection, logistics, emergency services, public safety and infrastructure.
The answer is not to treat every drone as hostile.
The answer is to build systems that allow authorised drone operations while detecting and responding to unauthorised activity.
That is a much more mature approach.
Why this matters for Enterprise UAV customers
For Enterprise UAV customers, this announcement matters in several ways.
If you operate drones commercially, it shows that the UK is continuing to develop the spectrum framework needed for more advanced operations.
If you are looking at BVLOS, Dock 3, remote monitoring or long-distance infrastructure inspection, spectrum and communications planning will become more important.
If you manage a sensitive site, it shows that drone detection is becoming a recognised part of security planning.
If you work in public safety, utilities, infrastructure or logistics, it shows that drone innovation and drone security are developing together.
The organisations that plan properly will be in a stronger position.
Questions organisations should now be asking
Sensitive sites and drone operators should be asking practical questions.
For site security teams:
Do we understand the drone risk around our site?
Can we distinguish authorised and unauthorised drone activity?
Do we have a drone incident response plan?
Would drone detection radar help our operation?
How would alerts be handled?
Who would receive them?
What evidence would be captured?
How would we work with police or other agencies?
Are we considering future licensed detection systems?
For drone operators:
Do our operations rely on robust communications links?
Are we planning BVLOS or longer-distance use cases?
Do we understand spectrum requirements?
Do we need Ofcom licensing for specific radio equipment?
How does spectrum fit with our CAA Operational Authorisation?
Are we planning for backup communications where mobile coverage is limited?
Will our operations be near sensitive sites?
How will we coordinate with site owners?
These are not future issues.
They are current planning issues for serious drone operations.
What should organisations avoid?
Organisations should avoid three common mistakes.
Treating drone detection as a standalone purchase
A detection system only works if it is part of a wider process.
You need procedures, trained staff, response plans, escalation routes and evidence handling.
Assuming detection means defeat
Detecting a drone does not automatically mean you can interfere with it.
Any counter-drone response must be lawful, controlled and appropriate.
Ignoring legitimate drone use
Many drones near infrastructure sites may be operating lawfully.
Detection systems and security procedures need to avoid treating all drone activity as hostile.
The goal should be managed airspace awareness, not blanket suspicion.
The bigger picture for the UK drone industry
Ofcom’s announcement is another sign that the UK drone industry is moving into a more mature phase.
The early market was about buying drones.
The next phase is about integrating drones into real operations.
That means:
Spectrum
Software
Training
CAA authorisation
Drone detection
BVLOS planning
Data workflows
Remote operations
Security procedures
Maintenance
Risk management
This is where the drone industry is heading.
Not just better aircraft.
Better systems.
Final thoughts
Ofcom’s proposed drone detection radar licence is an important development for the UK.
It acknowledges that drones bring both opportunity and risk.
For prisons, airports, power stations and critical infrastructure, drone detection may become an increasingly important part of site security.
For commercial operators, the wider spectrum proposals show that the UK is continuing to prepare for more advanced drone use, including longer-distance and BVLOS operations.
The message is clear.
Drones are becoming more important.
So is the infrastructure around them.
The future of drone operations will not only depend on the aircraft in the sky.
It will depend on communications, detection, authorisation, procedures and responsible integration.
Speak to Enterprise UAV
Enterprise UAV works with organisations across public safety, infrastructure, inspection, security and commercial drone operations.
We can help you understand DJI Enterprise drones, DJI Dock 3, remote operations, drone workflows, training, maintenance and the practical considerations around safe drone deployment.
If your organisation is planning drone operations or reviewing how drones may affect your site security, speak to Enterprise UAV.
Contact us here:
https://enterpriseuav.co.uk/contact-us/
FAQs
What has Ofcom announced about hostile drones?
Ofcom has proposed a new drone detection radar licence to help organisations such as prisons, power stations and airports identify hostile or unauthorised drone activity earlier.
What frequencies would the drone detection radar licence use?
Ofcom is proposing drone detection radar authorisation at 24 GHz, specifically 24.05 to 24.25 GHz, and 16 GHz, specifically 15.4 to 16.6 GHz. The 16 GHz authorisation would need case-by-case coordination with the Ministry of Defence.
Does this allow organisations to jam drones?
No. The proposal is about authorising the use of drone detection radar. Detection is not the same as jamming, taking control of or disabling a drone.
Why does this matter for prisons?
Prisons can be targets for unauthorised drone activity, including smuggling or surveillance. Drone detection can support early warning, evidence capture and response planning.
Why does this matter for airports?
Drone activity near airports can create major disruption and safety concerns. Detection radar could help improve early warning and airspace awareness.
Why does this matter for power stations and critical infrastructure?
Critical infrastructure sites may need to identify unauthorised aerial activity while still allowing legitimate drone operations for inspection, maintenance and emergency response.
What else is Ofcom proposing?
Ofcom is also proposing additional spectrum access for drone control links, including 450 MHz and parts of the 5030 to 5091 MHz band, to support more advanced drone operations.
Is this connected to BVLOS drone operations?
Yes. Ofcom notes that BVLOS use cases often rely on mobile networks for command and control, but may need backup spectrum access where mobile coverage is limited.
Who regulates drone flying in the UK?
The Civil Aviation Authority regulates drone operations and air safety. Ofcom regulates the radio spectrum and radio equipment used by drones and drone detection systems.
Should businesses respond to the consultation?
Organisations involved in drone operations, drone security, critical infrastructure, public safety, telecoms, utilities or BVLOS development may want to review the consultation and consider responding before 30 September 2026.
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