In Ukraine, UA DroneID — a system for secure identification and coordination of drones — has been unveiled. It helps the military distinguish their own UAVs from enemy ones and coordinate flights in real time. The solution was developed by “Aerorozvidka” and Cossack Labs with support from the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Digital Transformation, DOU reports from the Brave1 Defense Tech Valley 2025 exhibition.
Launched in 2023 amid a sharp rise in UAV use at the front, UA DroneID was tested along the entire combat line the same year. Before its introduction, coordination often happened in chats, and lack of protected identification meant up to 50% of downed drones were lost to friendly fire from own EW, air defense and interceptors.
UA DroneID shows its aircraft in combat IT systems (including DELTA), transmits telemetry and mission data in real time and records results such as confirmed hits or losses. According to Aerorozvidka, after rollout friendly-fire cases dropped by about 90%.
The system now works with various platforms — winged reconnaissance drones, bombers, interceptors as well as ground and surface robotic assets. More than 15 manufacturers have already been integrated, with dozens more joining. Cossack Labs handles protocol architecture, cryptography and telemetry protection; the Ministry of Digital Transformation helps manufacturers integrate; the Ministry of Defense sets requirements and coordinates; Aerorozvidka with the Center for Innovation and Development of Defense Technologies brings manufacturers on board and implements the solution in DELTA.
Next steps include scaling the protocol, expanding compatible platforms, improving positioning accuracy and strengthening security, including physical protection of modules if captured by the enemy. Developers note the key challenge is balancing international norms — often too general or overregulated — with Ukrainian realities that demand speed and flexibility. UA DroneID therefore applies minimal requirements for manufacturers while maintaining high security and authentication levels.
Mass UAV use overloads airspace and increases risks of misunderstandings between units. Standardized “friend-or-foe” identification and secure data exchange reduce losses of own aircraft, speed up decision-making and simplify operations of mixed fleets from different manufacturers. UA DroneID is designed to be the technical “glue” between drones and battle-management systems and eventually a standard for confirming operational results.
