A method of authenticating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), said method comprising: receiving , at an authentication center, an authentication request from a UAV, wherein the authentication request comprises a UAV identifier; retrieving, at the authentication center, information that corresponds to the UAV identifier; generating , at the authentication center, authentication vectors based on the retrieved information and a random number, wherein the authentication vectors comprise at least an authentication token; transmitting from the authentication center the authentication token and a key evaluation reference to the UAV, wherein the UAV authenticates the authentication vector based on a message authentication code generated based on the authentication token, the key evaluation reference, and a key encoded on the UAV; receiving , at the authentication center, a response from the UAV, wherein the response is based on the key evaluation reference and the key encoded on the UAV; and verifying, at the authentication center, the authentication request based on the response received from the UAV, wherein the verifying includes comparing an expected response to the random number and the response from the UAV, wherein if the expected response to the random number and the response from the UAV are found to be inconsistent, the authentication fails, and if the expected response to the random number and the response from the UAV are found to be identical, the authentication succeeds; in case of successful authentication, the method further comprises providing an encryption key and an integration-checking key to an air control system; and establishing secure communications between the UAV and the air control system based on the encryption key and the integration-checking key. receiving , at an authentication center, an authentication request from a UAV, wherein the authentication request comprises a UAV identifier; retrieving, at the authentication center, information that corresponds to the UAV identifier; generating , at the authentication center, authentication vectors based on the retrieved information and a random number, wherein the authentication vectors comprise at least an authentication token; transmitting from the authentication center the authentication token and a key evaluation reference to the UAV, wherein the UAV authenticates the authentication vector based on a message authentication code generated based on the authentication token, the key evaluation reference, and a key encoded on the UAV; receiving , at the authentication center, a response from the UAV, wherein the response is based on the key evaluation reference and the key encoded on the UAV; and verifying, at the authentication center, the authentication request based on the response received from the UAV, wherein the verifying includes comparing an expected response to the random number and the response from the UAV, wherein if the expected response to the random number and the response from the UAV are found to be inconsistent, the authentication fails, and if the expected response to the random number and the response from the UAV are found to be identical, the authentication succeeds; in case of successful authentication, the method further comprises providing an encryption key and an integration-checking key to an air control system; and establishing secure communications between the UAV and the air control system based on the encryption key and the integration-checking key. <EOS>