Securing UAV Flying Ad Hoc Wireless Networks: Authentication Development for Robust Communications

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have revolutionized numerous domains by introducing exceptional capabilities and efficiencies. As UAVs become increasingly integrated into critical operations, ensuring the security of their communication channels emerges as a paramount concern. This paper investigate...

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Main Authors: Muhammet A. Sen, Saba Al-Rubaye, Antonios Tsourdos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Sensors
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/4/1194
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author Muhammet A. Sen
Saba Al-Rubaye
Antonios Tsourdos
author_facet Muhammet A. Sen
Saba Al-Rubaye
Antonios Tsourdos
author_sort Muhammet A. Sen
collection DOAJ
description Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have revolutionized numerous domains by introducing exceptional capabilities and efficiencies. As UAVs become increasingly integrated into critical operations, ensuring the security of their communication channels emerges as a paramount concern. This paper investigates the importance of safeguarding UAV communication against cyber threats, considering both intra-UAV and UAV–ground station interactions in the scope of the Flying Ad Hoc Networks (FANETs). To leverage the advancements in security methodologies, particularly focusing on Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs), this paper proposes a novel authentication framework tailored for UAV networking systems. Investigating the existing literature, we categorize related studies into authentication strategies, illuminating the evolving landscape of UAV security. The proposed framework demonstrated a high level of security with lower communication and computation costs in comparison with selected studies with similar types of attacks. This paper highlights the urgent need for strong security measures to mitigate the increasing threats that UAVs encounter and ensure their sustained effectiveness in a variety of applications. The results indicate that the proposed protocol is sufficiently secure and, in terms of communication cost, achieves an 18% improvement compared to the best protocol in the referenced studies.
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spelling doaj-art-b2dead246aa1421992d1e4a35e1a2b662025-08-20T02:44:39ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202025-02-01254119410.3390/s25041194Securing UAV Flying Ad Hoc Wireless Networks: Authentication Development for Robust CommunicationsMuhammet A. Sen0Saba Al-Rubaye1Antonios Tsourdos2School of Aerospace, Transportation and Manufacturing, Cranfield University, Cranfield MK43 0AL, UKSchool of Aerospace, Transportation and Manufacturing, Cranfield University, Cranfield MK43 0AL, UKSchool of Aerospace, Transportation and Manufacturing, Cranfield University, Cranfield MK43 0AL, UKUnmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have revolutionized numerous domains by introducing exceptional capabilities and efficiencies. As UAVs become increasingly integrated into critical operations, ensuring the security of their communication channels emerges as a paramount concern. This paper investigates the importance of safeguarding UAV communication against cyber threats, considering both intra-UAV and UAV–ground station interactions in the scope of the Flying Ad Hoc Networks (FANETs). To leverage the advancements in security methodologies, particularly focusing on Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs), this paper proposes a novel authentication framework tailored for UAV networking systems. Investigating the existing literature, we categorize related studies into authentication strategies, illuminating the evolving landscape of UAV security. The proposed framework demonstrated a high level of security with lower communication and computation costs in comparison with selected studies with similar types of attacks. This paper highlights the urgent need for strong security measures to mitigate the increasing threats that UAVs encounter and ensure their sustained effectiveness in a variety of applications. The results indicate that the proposed protocol is sufficiently secure and, in terms of communication cost, achieves an 18% improvement compared to the best protocol in the referenced studies.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/4/1194unmanned aerial vehiclesauthentication protocolphysical unclonable function
spellingShingle Muhammet A. Sen
Saba Al-Rubaye
Antonios Tsourdos
Securing UAV Flying Ad Hoc Wireless Networks: Authentication Development for Robust Communications
Sensors
unmanned aerial vehicles
authentication protocol
physical unclonable function
title Securing UAV Flying Ad Hoc Wireless Networks: Authentication Development for Robust Communications
title_full Securing UAV Flying Ad Hoc Wireless Networks: Authentication Development for Robust Communications
title_fullStr Securing UAV Flying Ad Hoc Wireless Networks: Authentication Development for Robust Communications
title_full_unstemmed Securing UAV Flying Ad Hoc Wireless Networks: Authentication Development for Robust Communications
title_short Securing UAV Flying Ad Hoc Wireless Networks: Authentication Development for Robust Communications
title_sort securing uav flying ad hoc wireless networks authentication development for robust communications
topic unmanned aerial vehicles
authentication protocol
physical unclonable function
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/4/1194
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AT sabaalrubaye securinguavflyingadhocwirelessnetworksauthenticationdevelopmentforrobustcommunications
AT antoniostsourdos securinguavflyingadhocwirelessnetworksauthenticationdevelopmentforrobustcommunications