Feasibility study and SKR performance analysis of drone-based platforms for quantum key distribution

Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) enables secure key exchange resilient to quantum attacks, yet its deployment is often constrained by infrastructure and platform limitations. This work investigates UAV-based QKD links using compact, photonic integrated circuit (PIC) transmitters across three operational scenarios: urban (field hospitals), desert (drone–tank links), and maritime (drone–naval ship links). Simulation studies consider realistic atmospheric conditions, turbulence, and UAV mobility, evaluating secret key rate (SKR) as a function of distance and pointing accuracy. Results indicate that military and maritime deployments achieve the longest operational ranges (up to 5 km), while urban scenarios exhibit reduced distance but benefit from flexible receiver aperture optimization. Angular stabilization is identified as a critical factor, with improved pointing accuracy potentially extending maximum QKD distances by up to 50%. The use of PIC-based transmitters enables lightweight, low-power payloads compatible with commercial UAVs, demonstrating the feasibility of rapidly deployable, ondemand quantum-secure networks in diverse environments.