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Counter-Uncrewed Aerial Systems (C-UAS) and the Protection of Critical Infrastructure

Australia’s ability to protect its critical infrastructure from nefarious drones is entering a decisive moment. This report highlights how the Australian government must move faster to counter rapidly evolving drone threats in the non-military realm – and how it can draw on U.S., UK, and EU best practices to craft a cohesive national framework.

Top takeaways:

• Emerging national security threat: The inability of critical infrastructure operators to detect or neutralize nefarious drones represents a growing vulnerability for Australia’s national security.
• Urgency required: The pace of drone innovation outstrips Australia’s traditional policy cycle – leaving urgent gaps in legal authority, governance, and operational coordination.
• Path forward: Immediate, risk-based authorizations should be issued allowing operators at high-risk sites to deploy detection sensors and non-kinetic counter-drone systems under strict oversight. Longer-term, the government should work towards a unified national C-UAS framework – defining legal authority, governance, and pathways to develop and utilize (or operate) sovereign Australian technology and capability.