In late 2025, we got the Federal Communications Commission’s ban on future foreign-made drones. Earlier in 2025, President Trump issued executive orders on “Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty” and “Unleashing American Drone Dominance.” As we kick off 2026, this is the year that all eyes seem to be on airspace security.
According to Dedrone by Axon’s newly released 10th Annual Airspace Security Report, 2026 marks the beginning of a fundamental transformation in how the United States (and the world) thinks about airspace security. In short? We’re entering an era where the sky becomes increasingly monitored, regulated and controlled.
For drone pilots, this means your freedom to fly is about to get a lot more complicated and a lot less free. But on the bright side, it means things could be potentially a lot safer and more structured. Here’s what the industry (and in particular, the new Dedrone report) has to say about airspace security in 2026 — and my take.
Expect more counter-drone systems at stadiums and other major events
The U.S. government has cited major events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as reasons to treat airspace security as a national priority. At stadiums, state fair and major gathering sites, geofencing that prevents takeoff has become increasingly common.
“The sky is becoming one of the most dynamic and contested domains in modern life, that now demands continuous awareness and coordination,” according to Dedrone’s report.
Dedrone’s report predicts that counter-drone systems will move “far beyond airports and stadiums into every major public venue — from outdoor concerts to parades, sports arenas and civic gatherings.”
That means state and local agencies may begin requiring airspace security audits for any event over a certain attendance threshold. For pilots, that means:
- More restricted zones, more often
- Active detection systems that can identify your drone even if you think you’re flying legally
- Potential for law enforcement response if you enter protected airspace, even accidentally
- The need to check not just FAA restrictions but also local event-based no-fly zones
The World Cup and Olympics will be the testing ground for these expanded restrictions. Expect what gets deployed for those events to become the new normal for large gatherings nationwide.
Remote ID will evolve
Dedrone predicts that agencies will “no longer separate ‘drone use’ from ‘drone defense.’” Instead of thinking about authorized drones versus unauthorized drones as separate categories, we’re moving toward a unified airspace management system where all drones — police, commercial, recreational —operate within a shared awareness layer.
“Airspace awareness will evolve into a common operating picture, connecting public safety, commercial, and enterprise users through shared data and trust protocols,” according to Dedrone’s report.
If that sounds like what the Remote ID rollout was supposed to be, well, you’re not wrong. Many argued that the Remote ID rollout — which kicked off in 2022 and was littered with issues like delays and lack of accountability — was a failure. Still, many in the drone industry are calling for some sort of better version of Remote ID, which may come to better fruition once final BVLOS rules go into effect (we did get a final proposed rule in August 2025).
Many in the drone industry are still calling for a sort of transponder in aviation, where your drone would continuously broadcast its identity, location, and authorization status to a network of sensors and systems managing the airspace. This is actually the future that Remote ID was supposed to enable, but we’re talking about a much more sophisticated and integrated version.
In the future, that means:
- You might expect mandatory real-time tracking systems beyond basic Remote ID
- Your drone’s flight data may be automatically shared with local law enforcement and airspace management systems
- Legitimate operations become easier once you’re “in the system,” but unauthorized flights become immediately visible
- Pre-authorization systems for flights in certain areas, similar to LAANC but more comprehensive
We may see drone highways in the sky
There have been a few examples of drone highways, including in Texas and Oklahoma. They may become more widespread — and more regulated by government.
“Governments and industry will begin establishing structured drone corridors — fixed routes in the low-altitude airspace that function like highways for autonomous flight,” according to Dedrone’s report.
Dedrone says to expect these highways to appear near major metro areas and logistics hubs, coordinated between the FAA, state authorities, and operators like Amazon, Wing, and Zipline. These corridors will eventually form “a national low-altitude transportation grid, complete with right-of-way rules, altitude tiers, and enforcement mechanisms.”
This is where Part 108 — the FAA’s forthcoming Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) regulations—becomes critical. Part 108 is set to be finalized in 2026, “unlocking routine BVLOS operations and fueling mass drone adoption across delivery, inspection, and DFR programs.”
In the coming years, pilots may see:
- Designated flight corridors where commercial and delivery drones have priority
- Recreational pilots may be restricted from these corridors or required to yield right-of-way
- Altitude stratification—different altitudes for different types of operations
- “Rules of the road” for drone airspace, similar to maritime navigation rules
If you’re flying for fun, you might find yourself squeezed into smaller and smaller areas of unrestricted airspace as commercial operations expand.
More cops will use drones
My own city of San Francisco successfully uses drones in its police department, and that will likely become more commonplace in cities, big and small.
Dedrone’s report predicts that drones will “evolve from a specialized resource into standard patrol gear. Every officer or patrol vehicle will have a small, easily deployable drone for close-quarters and indoor operations.”
Meanwhile, dock-based Drone as First Responder (DFR) programs will “handle the majority of calls for service and situational awareness,” with automated systems that “launch, recharge, and redeploy on their own.”
This has major implications for recreational and commercial pilots. If more police use drones, you might expect:
- You’re much more likely to encounter police drones during normal operations
- Right-of-way rules will heavily favor emergency response drones
- Your flights may be temporarily grounded if police need to deploy drones for an incident in your area
- Increased scrutiny of any flight that looks suspicious or interferes with public safety operations
What to expect from drones in the defense sector
Though Dedrone’s defense predictions likely won’t directly affect recreational pilots, there are some compelling ways we should think about military drones in the coming years.
Multi-domain threats: Expect increased use of underwater drones (UUVs), surface drones (USVs), and ground drones (UGVs) alongside aerial systems. Counter-drone systems will evolve into multi-domain defense platforms.
Micro-drones and “cybugs”: Insect-sized drones and bio-hybrid platforms will move from prototype to field testing, offering near-undetectable surveillance capabilities. This will drive demand for even more sophisticated detection systems.
AI-mediated engagement: Counter-drone systems will increasingly use AI to generate real-time “shoot/no-shoot” recommendations, with humans “on the loop rather than fully in control.”
RF-silent autonomous drones: As RF-based counter-drone technology becomes ubiquitous, adversaries will shift toward fully autonomous drones that don’t emit detectable radio signals. This makes visual and acoustic detection more important.
So why should civilian pilots care? The defense sector is driving development of detection and tracking technologies that will inevitably be deployed domestically. What starts as military counter-drone capability ends up as standard equipment for airports, stadiums, and eventually major public venues.
How drone pilots should plan for 2026
Many of these potential airspace changes hinge on how the FAA implements Part 108 BVLOS regulations, which is expected to be finalized in 2026.
If done right, Part 108 could enable the drone delivery and DFR operations that make airspace management necessary and worthwhile. It would “clarify right-of-way responsibilities and legitimize autonomous flight at scale.”
But it could also create a two-tiered system where commercial operators get broad BVLOS authority while recreational pilots face increasingly restrictive rules to keep airspace “safe” for autonomous operations.
Based on these predictions and current policy trends, here’s my advice:
1. Get compliant now. Remote ID, registration, Part 107 if you’re flying commercially — don’t wait for enforcement to ramp up. The window for flying under the radar (literally) is closing.
2. Invest in flight planning tools. Apps that show not just FAA restrictions but also temporary flight restrictions, sporting events, and local no-drone zones will become essential. Aloft, AirMap, and similar services will be worth paying for.
3. Join advocacy organizations. Groups like the Drone Advocacy Alliance and the Academy of Model Aeronautics will be crucial for ensuring recreational pilots aren’t completely shut out as regulations tighten.
4. Consider how airspace monitoring affects you. Your flights are likely going to be detected and tracked, even if you’re flying legally.
5. Stay informed about Part 108. The BVLOS regulations will define what airspace remains available for recreational use. Pay attention to the rulemaking process and comment when the FAA seeks public input.
6. Plan for transition. If you fly DJI or other foreign-made drones, you have time — existing equipment remains legal. But start thinking about what comes next, whether that’s American-made drone alternatives or accepting that your current fleet has a limited remaining lifespan.
Some of this is genuinely necessary. Drones pose real risks to aviation safety, critical infrastructure, and major events. As delivery drones and DFR programs scale up, we need better airspace management to prevent conflicts and accidents.
But I’m concerned about the balance. The security apparatus being built — comprehensive monitoring, counter-drone systems everywhere, restrictions expanding far beyond obvious high-risk areas — creates an infrastructure that could easily be used to over-regulate or suppress legitimate drone use.
The challenge for the drone community is ensuring that as airspace security increases, there remains space (literally) for recreational and small commercial operations. We need regulations that enable safety without killing innovation or making hobbyist flight effectively impossible. The freedom to fly that drone pilots have enjoyed for the past decade is about to get a lot more structured, monitored and restricted.
The question is whether what emerges is a system that enables safe, diverse airspace use—or one that stifles it.
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