## 3 Proposed Approach: Quantum Key Distribution (QKD)
### Analysis and Verification of the Proposed Method
#### 3.3.2 Security Analysis: Resistance to Cyber Attacks
This decline is likely due to the overwhelming volume of traffic generated during such attacks, which saturates network resources and reduces the system's capacity to analyze every packet with the same level of scrutiny. The excessive load not only strains computational resources but also increases the likelihood of malicious packets blending with legitimate traffic, thereby complicating detection efforts. This observation highlights a critical area for improvement: while the system is highly effective under moderate threat conditions, its performance could be further optimized by enhancing traffic analysis algorithms and implementing advanced load-balancing techniques to sustain high detection rates even under extreme network congestion. Recovery Time: The duration required for the system to return to normal operation after an attack. The following graph depicts the average time taken by the system to recover to its normal operational status after the cessation of each attack (Figure 6). \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c} \hline
**Attack Scenario** & **Detection Rate (\%)** \\ \hline Packet Injection & 98 \\ \hline Replay Attack & 95 \\ \hline Denial-of-Service (DoS) & 92 \\ \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 6: Detection rates under different attack scenarios: simulation results of packet injection, replay, and DoS attacks, measuring system latency, detection rates, and recovery times. The system exhibits varying recovery times depending on the nature and intensity of the attack, reflecting its ability to adapt and restore normal operations under different threat conditions. In the case of a packet injection attack, the system recovers swiftly within approximately 5 s. This rapid recovery can be attributed to the straightforward nature of packet injection threats, where the system quickly identifies and isolates unauthorized packets without the need for extensive resource reallocation or system-wide resets. Conversely, recovery from a replay attack takes slightly longer, averaging around 7 s. The extended recovery period is due to the additional verification processes required to distinguish between legitimate data and duplicated packets, which adds complexity to the system's restoration protocols. The most prolonged recovery time is observed during Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks, where the system takes an average of 15 s to return to normal functionality. This delay is primarily caused by the need to clear the substantial network congestion generated by the overwhelming volume of malicious traffic. The system must not only filter out the excess load but also reestablish stable communication channels, which demands more extensive resource management. Critically, these observations highlight the system's resilience in handling moderate attacks efficiently while exposing potential vulnerabilities in responding to high-volume threats. Enhancing the system's scalability and implementing advanced congestion control mechanisms could further reduce recovery times, particularly in the face of sustained DoS attacks. The overall simulation results demonstrated the system's resilience under various attack scenarios. The proposed algorithm maintained data integrity and confidentiality, effectively detecting and mitigating malicious activities. The system's performance metrics remained within acceptable thresholds, confirming its robustness in securing UAV communications against cyber threats. 5. Theoretical Security Analysis:  
Mathematical proofs based on information-theoretic security models confirm that QKD provides unconditional security against passive eavesdropping and active quantum attacks. Additionally, AES-128 encryption, combined with frequent key updates from QKD, ensures forward secrecy even if a session key is compromised. The security of the proposed algorithm is grounded in the well-established principles of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and classical cryptography.