Airspace Security

The next frontier of grid security

Southern State's airspace security solution offers reliable detection–tracking–identification (DTI) coverage for drones and other low-altitude threats.

Utilities have long managed ground-level threats like ballistic attacks, leading to NERC CIP-014 standards for physical protection. Today, the threat is shifting overhead. Drones and low-altitude aircraft are introducing new risks that have no formal utility guidelines and limited regulatory oversight. Just as CIP-014 reshaped ground-level security, airspace protection is the next wave of grid resiliency.

These trends underscore the urgency for utilities to act now. Future-proofing substations with advanced drone detection and airspace awareness technology is no longer optional — it is a proactive necessity to safeguard the grid against evolving threats.

Emerging Threats:

1. Autonomous drones that fly “Radio Frequency (RF) Silent”
2. Detection gaps mean many incidents go unnoticed
3. Persistent overflights without a source of origin
4. Unauthorized aerial surveillance of grid assets
5. Limited ability for utilities to monitor aircraft — Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B), Air Traffic Control (ATC)
6. Policy gap CIP-014 addressed physical attacks — no parallel standard exists for drone or airspace threats
7. Federal limitations — FAA restriction laws prevent full Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) at substation sites
8. Utility security philosophies have shifted from viewing threats as a possibility to recognizing them as a probability — driven by overwhelming data that demands proactive action before the next major incident.
9. State-level responses are emerging e.g., Louisiana (2025) authorized police to neutralize malicious drones

Don’t wait for airspace risks to trigger new regulations. Proactive utilities are already integrating detection and awareness as part of their security plans.