The next stage in the “arms race” will be the emergence of a new generation of sensors that scan the radio frequency spectrum in search of anti-aircraft drones — a reliable indicator, since they continuously transmit video signals to the ground. Such systems already exist on some Russian and Ukrainian drones and complement optical sensors.

Sound detection could become a promising and, at the same time, quite exotic technology. The relevant developments for searching for enemy artillery are already being installed on German Vector drones and can be refined to detect the characteristic noise of UAV engines.

Ultimately, from a defensive standpoint the helicopter gunship (manned and unmanned) will become the hard counter to this evolution.