Why Are Anti Drone Patents Up 27% In A Year?

If you want a neat way to measure anxiety about drones, look at the patent office.

Research from Mathys & Squire found that global patent applications for anti drone technologies went up 27% in the year to 31 March last year. Filings reached 126, up from 99 the year before. That is not a marginal change. It is an evident jump in activity.

The timing makes sense. Drones have transformed modern warfare in Ukraine. In the Gulf, conflict has exposed the limits of relying on million dollar interceptor missiles built for a different type of threat. At the same time, suspicious drone sightings across Europe and the US have brought in questions about how exposed civilian and defence infrastructure might be.

Andrew White, Partner at Mathys & Squire said, “Drones have shifted from being a niche concern to a mainstream security challenge and the rise in patent filings reflects that change. With drone disruptions affecting sensitive sites and infrastructure, organisations are racing to develop reliable countermeasures.”

Organisations are not debating the problem. They are filing paperwork.

Who Is Filing The Most?

China is far ahead.

According to Mathys & Squire, China filed 82 anti drone patent applications in the last year alone. The United States recorded 22. South Korea filed 6. Together, those three countries account for the bulk of global activity.

Out of 126 total filings, China’s 82 represent about 65%. The US holds roughly 17%. South Korea comes in at just under 5%. The rest of the world makes up the remainder.

Europe does not feature in the top 3. That is quite something, considering recent events. Since September, 7 large European airports have faced drone related disruption, including Brussels and Munich. Copenhagen and Oslo both experienced temporary suspensions of operations. The incidents were real. The patent numbers are modest.

The global ranking is telling. China leads, followed by the US and South Korea.

What Kind Of Tech Are Inventors Backing?

The data shows a strong preference for electronic countermeasures.

Interference and jamming recorded 49 new patents last year, making it the most common category. Signal interference technologies account for the largest share of new inventions. These systems target a drone’s communications and navigation links.

That fits recent airport incidents because when operations stop due to a drone sighting, the priority is to disable or neutralise it quickly. Interference based systems promise that without firing expensive missiles.

There is also growing interest in directed energy tools. Laser related inventions reached 39 in 2025, up from 28 the year before. Microwave systems went up to 24 patents from 18. The numbers are smaller than interference and jamming, but they are moving upward.

Andrew White said: “We’re also seeing innovation move beyond traditional approaches. Laser and microwave systems are gaining traction in the counter-drone market and this is likely just the beginning of a broader shift in how airspace threats are countered.”

Other methods attract little attention in comparison. Bullet related patents stood at 6. Target capturing devices and rockets recorded 1 each.

Where Will All This End Up?

This is not confined to battlefields. Mathys & Squire reported growing use cases in commercial and infrastructure protection. Anti drone technologies are being developed for airports, prisons, energy infrastructure, ports and large public events.

When 7 European airports face disruption in a matter of months, the commercial argument writes itself. Grounded flights cost money. Security scares dent confidence. Patent filings are one way to read how seriously organisations are taking the issue.

A 27% rise to 126 applications in a single year does not look like a passing trend. It looks like sustained investment in counter drone ideas. The paperwork is straightforward. Drones are common, cheap and effective. Governments and organisations are responding, and China is leading that charge on the patent register.