Bringing Order to Chaos: Why CUAS Standards Matter Today

Across airports, energy facilities, and national infrastructure, the demand for CUAS solutions is growing, but so is the confusion. Procurement teams are under pressure to act, but without a shared technical language, it's often unclear what they're buying. Vendors interpret terms like 'Detection' and 'Identification' in different ways.

Some systems claim range or accuracy figures with no standardised test behind them. Others use the label "CUAS" without clearly defining their architecture, limitations, or drone defence compliance status. In high-stakes environments, the absence of publicly available and recognised CUAS standards creates operational risk and inflated claims.

Mark Lupton, CTO at OSL, has spent years tackling this challenge. In this blog, he shares a simpler way forward. He has over 25 years of experience in defence, aerospace, and secure communications. Plus, Mark has worked on both MOD programmes and civil aviation initiatives.

Today, he plays a key role in shaping CUAS standards nationally and internationally. There, he serves as the Convener of ISO Working Group 8 on CUAS and the Secretary of EUROCAE WG-115 / RTCA SC-238. He leads the UK Delegation to BSI ACE20, coordinating global positions, aligning stakeholders, and shaping trusted drone defence frameworks. Drawing on this work, Mark helps clarify what CUAS standards are and why they matter, and also helps explain how buyers can use them to make sense of a fragmented and fast-moving market.

Why Standards Matter for CUAS Procurement

CUAS deployments are rarely off-the-shelf. They rely on a layered architecture: detection, tracking, classification, alerting, and response, often integrating multiple technologies from different vendors. This complexity creates room for uncertainty. Without CUAS standards, even basic terms like "Track" or "Counter" are open to interpretation.

Some vendors define their own metrics while others operate with little to no independent validation. As a result, procurement teams, especially outside the military, often lack a clear baseline to guide selection

Drone defence standards help resolve this by introducing:

• A shared functional model for what constitutes a CUAS solution
• Defined performance metrics such as detection accuracy or false alert rates
• Testing and validation guidance to support independent evaluation
• Best practice recommendations for deployment, operator training, and incident response

By offering a common framework, CUAS compliance doesn't constrain innovation; it enables smarter decisions. Buyers can compare solutions with greater confidence, focus on what matters operationally for their specific needs and budget. They can also avoid making decisions based solely on marketing claims.

CUAS Standards Are Voluntary, But Increasingly Essential

CUAS standards are voluntary frameworks developed by multi-stakeholder committees, typically involving government, industry, and technical experts. But in practice, these drone defence standards often become essential. They enable interoperability and reduce risk, and demonstrate best practice.

They provide confidence for all site stakeholders, including procurement officers and operators, especially in sectors such as aviation, energy, and public safety. Because, in these sectors, reliability is important and liabilities are high.

A useful comparison of CUAS Standards is with ISO shipping containers. ISO 668 defines container size, structure, and handling requirements. Ports, ships, and cranes follow these standards universally, even though the law doesn't enforce them, because they're all built around them. Without that shared standard, global trade wouldn't function.

CUAS is moving in a similar direction. As adoption grows, conformity to well-defined system models and performance criteria will be a de facto requirement for effective CUAS deployments and compliance. A robust CUAS deployment requires mastering a layered approach that includes coordinated tracking, threat classification, and response protocols.

What These Standards Actually Cover

CUAS standards are evolving. At the time of writing, four ISO documents under Working Group 8 are in active development:

• ISO 16746 (User Quality & Safety)

Operational guidance for end users, including threat assessment, area surveillance planning, training, site design, and C2 functionality requirements.

• ISO 16747 (Manufacturer Quality & Safety)

Design and testing standards for CUAS manufacturers, covering Safety, cybersecurity, ergonomics, and electromagnetic compatibility.

• ISO 25461 (System Framework)

A functional model describing what a CUAS system should include and how detection, tracking, and identification features are defined.

• ISO 25216 (Component Grading)

Classification of system components (e.g., radars, RF sensors) by functionality and performance level.

In parallel, aviation-specific drone defence standards are being developed by EUROCAE WG-115 and RTCA SC-238, including:

• ED-286: Integration of CUAS into controlled airspace
• ED-322: Interoperability for non-cooperative detection systems

These documents reflect years of collaboration and consensus-building across civil aviation, security, and technology sectors. They are building the foundation for long-term maturity in CUAS procurement and compliance.

What This Means for Buyers

For procurement and operations leaders, these CUAS frameworks offer useful background reading. Plus, they help assess vendor claims and system capabilities.

When reviewing a system, buyers should increasingly expect:

• Graded or benchmarked components based on defined functions
• System claims (e.g., detection range or classification accuracy) to align with standardised test models
• User Interfaces and command and control components that follow defined integration formats
• Vendor documentation that maps to ISO or EUROCAE drone defence standards

Even in the absence of full certification, alignment with CUAS standards can help separate credible solutions from unverified ones. This helps them build long-term investments on a common foundation.

A More Trustworthy Future

The CUAS market has often been likened to the Wild West, and in some respects, that description still holds true. But drone defence standards are beginning to bring order. They don't dictate which technology should win or who builds the best sensor. Instead, they give stakeholders a way to compare, validate, and integrate appropriate technologies with greater confidence.

For buyers, this means more reliable outcomes. For operators, it means clearer procedures and reduced uncertainty. And for the industry as a whole, it marks a shift away from ad-hoc deployments toward sustainable, interoperable solutions that can scale with real-world demands.

The work is still ongoing, but momentum is building. For anyone involved in CUAS decision-making, from procurement to deployment, these CUAS compliance frameworks are quickly becoming essential tools.