Blockchain-based secure communication for UAV networks: a decentralized approach to GNSS spoofing detection

Ensuring secure communication in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) networks is a critical challenge due to vulnerabilities such as GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) spoofing, jamming, and unauthorized data manipulation. This research investigates the feasibility of blockchain technology as a decentralized and immutable framework for enhancing UAV communication security. A blockchain-based GNSS spoofing detection system is designed, implemented, and validated within a simulated environment integrating AirSim, Ethereum blockchain (Ganache), smart contract (Solidity), and Python-based UAV simulations. The proposed system employs a consensus mechanism among UAVs to detect anomalous GNSS data and mitigate spoofing attacks in real-time. Performance evaluation metrics – transaction latency, blockchain throughput, gas consumption, detection accuracy, storage usage, and energy consumption – demonstrate the system’s capability to securely validate UAV location data. Findings indicate that blockchain ensures data integrity and resilience against cyber threats, though challenges related to transaction latency, scalability and computational overhead persist. The study contributes to the field of aerospace cybersecurity and IoT-based UAV networks by proposing an innovative approach to autonomous, trustless UAV coordination. Future work will focus on optimizing the consensus mechanism and reducing blockchain resource consumption to enhance real-world applicability.