Passive vs. Active Drone Detection: What’s the Difference?

Passive drone detection listens for radio frequency emissions from a drone without transmitting any signal itself, making it covert and difficult to detect or jam. Active detection, such as radar, emits a signal and analyzes the return, which provides reliable detection of non-emitting drones but reveals the defending system's location and operating frequency. Most layered counter-UAS deployments use both methods together.