MP-SET-315-26.pdf — page 2

A Novel Swarm Defense End-to-End System 
for Autonomous Drone Detection, Tracking, and Neutralization 
2 
STO-MP-SET-315-26 
 
 
targets, and (iv) tracking and neutralization of the invading drones, combining ground and embedded 
sensors. During a mission, the airspace is divided into specific zones. First, a delimited protected area where 
any unauthorized drone activity is strictly forbidden. Secondly, a buffer area where any intrusion triggers a 
reaction from our system, allowing for a coordinated response before reaching the protected area.  
Our research contributes to the advancement of security measures against the escalating drone threats by 
providing a comprehensive, adaptable and scalable solution enabling collaborative autonomy thanks to 
relevant technologies and procedures. By combining our new components and existing system, we aim to 
mitigate risks and safeguard restricted areas against unauthorized drone activities. Developed in 
collaboration with subject matter experts, the research contributes to the advancement of counter-UAV 
technologies within the NATO S&T community. 
1.0 INTRODUCTION 
Driven by rapid technological advancements and widespread accessibility, drones now represent a 
significant security concern, especially in restricted zones. The need to counter unauthorized drone 
operations is more prominent than ever. In this paper, we present an innovative end-to-end system that 
employs a defensive swarm of autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to effectively neutralize a 
swarm of invading drones. The main sectors affected by drone incidents between December 2018 and March 
2020 were airports, private property, law enforcement, first responders and prisons [1].  
1.1 
Background on Drone Usage and Security Challenges 
Several academic and technical efforts have been directed towards the creation of C-UAV systems. In a 
recent work [2], 537 C-UAV products have been identified. From such, only 138 encompasses detection and 
interdiction processes. From this number, only 3 of them have the capability of using a net as neutralization 
means combined with detection capabilities. Nevertheless, the detection is carried out by ground systems 
(e.g., radar) and not by a combination of ground and sky systems, such as we propose in our solution for an 
effective localization and tracking of intruders. In addition, there is not a product in this review that uses 
swarming as neutralization means as part of an end-to-end system from detection up to neutralization. Last, 
the inclusion of AI algorithms for real-world applications is very recent and seldom deployed.  
There is a growing number of incidents by drone misuse [1]. Countering manually or with a single 
interdiction mean is not effective. Operating multiple drones to increase the chances of successful 
neutralization can potentially overwhelm operators. It is important to note that managing multiple drones to 
counter a single intruding drone is not a trivial task, not to mention the financial implications of training 
multiple operators and the operational costs themselves. Countering a swarm of drones is an even more 
complex operation, specifically due to drone coordination challenges.  
1.2 
Objective of the Research and the BlueSwarm System 
This research aims at designing, developing, implementing and evaluating an innovative C-UAV system 
called BlueSwarm that can handle detection, tracking and neutralization of intruding swarms, leveraging a 
fleet of collaborative autonomous drones, for real world applications. Primarily, the system is devised to 
detect potential threats within a specified “buffer zone”, before they reach a “protected zone”. The system 
uniquely identifies and localizes the detected threats. Any tracked entity classified as intruder triggers a 
response from the defensive swarm for tracking purposes. If an intruder is detected and assigned for tracking 
by one or more agents of the swarm, an autonomous sensing control is initiated. The system then transitions 
to the neutralization phase when the defensive swarm’s positioning aligns with the neutralization criteria, and 
hence, proceeds to safe neutralization.