REQUEST TO PARTICIPATE

The CUAS Security Summit 2026 in Copenhagen (January 2026) is a closed, invitation-only event hosted by UAS Norway, bringing together leading experts, public agencies, infrastructure operators, and technology providers to explore how knowledge of the low-altitude airspace can both protect society and unlock the full potential of drones for legitimate, beneficial use.

Drones have become indispensable tools in emergency response, logistics, inspection, and environmental monitoring. Yet, the same airspace that enables innovation also introduces new vulnerabilities. When we lack awareness of what operates in this layer of the sky, we lose both control and opportunity.

Drones as a threat

This summit will go beyond discussions about “drones as threats.” Participants will explore a broader air-domain perspective that includes unmanned aerial and maritime systems, weather balloons, ultralight aircraft, and other airborne objects that can impact security and safety.

Central to the program is a detailed examination of the entire CUAS ecosystem — from early detection and threat classification, to countermeasures, and finally data handling and fusion that transform raw sensor inputs into actionable intelligence. By understanding this data lifecycle, participants will see how CUAS systems can not only protect against threats but also secure the airspace for lawful and socially beneficial operations.

The summit will draw on lessons from Ukraine and other nations that have developed comprehensive national detection networks. These experiences provide valuable insights into establishing “normal airspace patterns” — the baseline knowledge that helps distinguish between routine activity and potential anomalies or threats.

Through two intensive days of keynote sessions, expert briefings, and specialized workshops, the event will give participants a holistic understanding of how technology, policy, and operations intersect to maintain safety, sovereignty, and societal trust in an increasingly dynamic low-airspace environment.

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Key Themes

– The Complete CUAS Ecosystem: From early detection and identification to countermeasures, incident response, and data-driven airspace management — understanding how each layer contributes to both safety and operational freedom.

– Situational Awareness in the Low Airspace: How national detection networks and continuous monitoring can define a “normal picture” of airspace activity — the foundation for identifying anomalies, risks, and threats.

– From Threat to Enablement: How CUAS capabilities can not only neutralize risks but also enable secure drone operations that benefit emergency services, inspection, logistics, and public safety.

– Global Lessons Learned: Insights from Ukraine and other nations with long-standing detection programs — understanding what continuous observation teaches about patterns, intent, and proportional response.

– Hybrid and Cross-Domain Threats: Expanding beyond drones — examining the risks posed by weather balloons, ultralight aircraft, and unmanned maritime systems.

– Data Fusion and Decision Intelligence: Turning detection data into actionable insight — integrating radar, RF, EO/IR, and acoustic sensors into a coherent operational picture.

– Airspace Resilience and Societal Cost: Evaluating the economic and social impact of airspace closures — and how smarter management can maintain both safety and access to airspace.

– Policy, Ethics, and Governance: Balancing privacy, legality, and security in a world of expanding sensor coverage and increasing automation with AI.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of Security Summit 2026, participants will be able to:

1. Understand the structure and purpose of a complete CUAS ecosystem, from detection to data analysis to operational response.

2. Differentiate between benign and malicious aerial or maritime activity using situational awareness frameworks and defined “normal airspace patterns.”

3. Assess the societal and economic trade-offs between strict airspace control and the safe integration of beneficial drone operations.

4. Describe how nations like Ukraine and others have used long-term detection programs to improve security, refine response models

5. Evaluate data-handling challenges — including fusion, interpretation, and sharing — to improve decision-making across agencies and infrastructure sectors.

6. Apply multi-domain awareness concepts to coordinate air, land, and maritime responses to unmanned threats.

7. Design or procure CUAS capabilities strategically, understanding when, why, and how such systems should be deployed to protect critical infrastructure.

8. Promote a culture of learning and cooperation across civil, governmental, and industrial actors to strengthen resilience in low-altitude environments.