The importance of countering the electronic and cyber warfare threats to UAVs and loitering munitions

Traditional indicators of military strength are being reshaped by rapid technological innovation, digital systems and the increasing importance of speed and adaptability.

Uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) and loitering munitions are now commonplace on the battlefield and their impact is only growing.

Their low cost, high impact capability means they’re a popular option for governments looking to arm their militaries with modern, more flexible alternatives to traditional missile systems.

While drones have been used by armed forces since the Cold War, advances in technology and reduced costs have made them far more accessible and effective.

UAVs, which tend to be reuseable assets, now play a key role in providing intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), target acquisition or logistics. The portability, precision and affordability of loitering munitions, which are designed to self-destruct on impact with their target - make them increasingly attractive to frontline units.

The problem with the precision

To perform effectively, both UAVs and loitering munitions rely on robust guidance and navigation systems to provide them with accurate Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) information.

However, as drone usage increases, so does the sophistication of counter UAV (C UAV) strategies with militaries using electronic and cyber warfare to disrupt or neutralise threats. The issue is that many systems use standard open service Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers (such as GPS or GLONASS), which can make them vulnerable to jamming or spoofing.

During the early stages of the Ukraine conflict, a RUSI study found that Russian electronic warfare units downed roughly 90% of Ukrainian UAVs by disrupting GPS, GLONASS and radio data links.

This means operators have to consider more robust, resilient guidance systems capable of withstanding increasingly sophisticated attacks without becoming too expensive to produce or operate.

What can be done?

Technologies such as Multi Constellation Open Service (MCOS) receivers or Controlled Reception Pattern Antennas (CRPA) offer greater resilience in contested electromagnetic environments.

QinetiQ’s Q40 MicroPNT GNSS receiver is at the leading edge of this new generation of assured and resilient PNT capability.

Small and lightweight, it can be easily integrated into UAVs and loitering munitions to provide interference mitigation, anti-spoofing and RF cyber protections that enhance defences against spoofing and cyber threats. CRPAs can also be paired with Q40 to further increase resistance to jamming.

There are a number of other benefits that the Q40 can provide, including:

• Tri-band architecture which enables multi constellation and multi signal GNSS tracking for high reliability and performance in challenging environments
• Enhanced sensitivity which allows detection of very low strength signals, improving Time to First Fix (TTFF) and resilience in high interference environments, such as dense urban areas or forests
• Multi sensor integration (both conventional and AltNav sensors)
• In-service software updates to counter emerging threats

What this means for the future of defence technology

The rapid evolution of UAV and loitering munition technology is reshaping military doctrine. These systems offer a powerful and cost-effective way to enhance the effectiveness of ground forces while reducing risk to personnel.

But to remain effective in contested environments, they need robust, resilient guidance systems capable of withstanding increasingly sophisticated electronic warfare.

As the digital battlefield becomes more complex, success will hinge on how well these technologies can themselves be protected.