This is the first in a series of articles highlighting the increasing applicability of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) to personal privacy and global security. Through this series we will explore PKI is evolving to be a powerhouse technology that quietly underpins much of the modern digital realm– providing the trust and security we rely on every day without realising it.

We will start by reviewing the topical news concerning the incursion of unidentified drones over UK airbases and how PKI will make future attacks easier to detect, police and prevent.

The Incident at UK Military Bases

In November 2024, unidentified drones were spotted over four US Air Force bases in the UK, including RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall. These sites are earmarked to store US nuclear weapons assets. These drones entered restricted airspace, raising alarms about potential espionage or malicious activity. Despite efforts to track and intercept them, the lack of identification or authentication mechanisms make it challenging to determine their origin, intent, or operator. This is a potential public safety, national andin extremis a global security risk.

This incident underscores the urgent need for a structured system to identify, authenticate, and regulate drones in sensitive areas. Without such a system, authorities are left guessing about whether a drone is benign or hostile.

‍The Privacy Problem

Beyond military concerns, drones also pose significant risks to individual privacy. Imagine relaxing in your garden only to find a drone hovering overhead, equipped with a high-resolution camera. Such an invasion of privacy is not just unsettling — it’s a breach of fundamental rights. Unfortunately, without a robust framework for identifying and regulating drones, such occurrences are becoming increasingly common.

PKI: The Foundation for Trust and Security

At its core, PKI is about creating a system of trustand identity, and it’s already at work in everyday life:

When you log into your bank’s website and see the padlock icon, that’s PKI ensuring the website is legitimate. It also secures your connection so that your data is encrypted and protected from unauthorised access during transmission.
When your messaging app encrypts your chats, PKI is the underlying technology keeping them private.

Now, imagine applying this same trust-building capability to drones. PKI enables drones to operate with accountability, ensuring they can be identified, tracked, and regulated.

A Certificate as a Drone’s Licence Plate

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has sponsored the development of the International Aviation Trust Framework (IATF) to define how PKI can be used to enable secure and reliable exchange of digital information in aviation.

IATF requires that all future drones will be secured using digital certificates, which act like virtual licence plates. These certificates:

Will be embedded in drones at point of manufacture
Prove a drone’s identity, allowing it to be registered and authenticated within a jurisdiction, network or airspace.
Cryptographically link a certified drone to a registered operator, ensuring accountability for any actions or violations.
Provide visibility to authorities, enabling quick identification of authorised drones and flagging unauthorised or rogue ones.

With this system in place, every drone and operator would carry a secure, traceable identity. If an unauthorised drone appears in restricted airspace, authorities can immediately determine it’s not certified, treat it as hostile, and take swift action.

These are the first key steps in regulating manufacturers, operators and flights plans for the deployment of drones in public airspace.

Of course, a more regulated airspace won’t eliminate all bad actors or unlicensed drones. However, it will make bad actors and their drones “stand out from the crowd”, make it faster to identify benign infractions, and make itharder to use commercially supplied drones for nefarious purposes.

How PKI Brings Order to Drone Operations

Authentication and Identity
Each drone is issued a unique digital certificate tied to its operator. This ensures:
- The drone is authorised to operate in specific airspaces.
- Its operator is held accountable for its actions.
Secure Communication
PKI enables encrypted communication between drones and their control stations, preventing unauthorised commands or hijacking attempts.
Hostile Drone Identification
Without a valid certificate, drones can be flagged as unauthorised or potentially hostile. This distinction helps authorities act quickly and effectivel

Aretiico: Enabling Trust in IoT and Drone Technology

As a leading PKI provider, Aretiico specialises in enabling trust for IoT devices, including drones. Aretiico’s solutions leverage advanced PKI methodologies to secure IoT ecosystems by providing unique digital identities for every device. These certificates ensure that drones and other IoT devices can be authenticated, communicate securely, and comply with international trust frameworks. By incorporating scalability and interoperability into its PKI solutions, Aretiico is empowering a future where IoT devices, including drones, operate with the highest levels of security and accountability.

The Role of the International Aviation Trust Framework(IATF)

ICAO is leading efforts to establish a global trust framework for drones by promoting the global adoption of the IATF. By embedding PKI into drone technology, the IATF ensures that every drone has a verifiable identity and purpose.

Key Benefits of a PKI-Based Framework

Accountability and Transparency: Certified drones carry unique, traceable identities linked to their operators, enabling swift action in cases of misuse or security breaches.
Enhanced Privacy Protections: Only authorised drones can operate in sensitive or private areas, significantly reducing the risk of intrusive surveillance.
Military Applications: If the drones over UK military bases had been certified, they could have been identified instantly, avoiding unnecessary confusion and enabling a precise response.

From Chaos to Justice

PKI isn’t just a tool—it’s a way to bring order and fairness to the rapidly growing drone ecosystem:

Authorities gain clarity: They can quickly distinguish between legitimate drones and rogue operators.
Operators gain trust: Certified drones can operate freely, fostering public confidence and innovation.
The public gains peace of mind: Privacy is respected, and accountability is built into the system

By creating a standardised trust framework, we can ensure drones are a force for innovation rather than chaos.

Conclusion

The recent drone incidents over UK military bases serve as awake-up call for the need to regulate and secure drone operations. PKI is proving to be the foundation for a safer, more accountable future. Its recent adoption as a cornerstone of the IATF evidences that PKI remains a technology with longterm applicability. By embedding trust at every level and using certificates asdrones’ digital licence plates, PKI and frameworks like the IATF enable drones to operate with security and purpose. With Aretiico’s expertise in IoT PKI solutions, this vision of trusted drone and device ecosystems is not just possible—it’s happening. PKI isn’t just old tech—it’s the future of trusted innovation in the skies.

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