# Counter-Drone Glossary: C-UAS Terms Explained | Uavity > Plain-English definitions of counter-drone terms: C-UAS, RF detection, radar, EO/IR, Remote ID, sensor fusion, effectors, jamming and Flight Restriction Zones. Source: https://uavity.com/glossary GLOSSARY # Counter-drone glossary. Plain definitions of the terms used in drone detection, counter-drone security and UK drone regulation. [A](#letter-a) [B](#letter-b) [C](#letter-c) [D](#letter-d) [E](#letter-e) [F](#letter-f) [G](#letter-g) [I](#letter-i) [J](#letter-j) [M](#letter-m) [N](#letter-n) [O](#letter-o) [R](#letter-r) [S](#letter-s) [T](#letter-t) [V](#letter-v) [W](#letter-w) ## A ### Acoustic detection Detecting drones by the sound of their motors and propellers using microphone arrays. Short range, and affected by background noise. ### Aerodrome traffic zone (ATZ) Protected airspace around an aerodrome, usually a cylinder of 2 or 2.5 nautical miles radius and 2,000 feet high. It forms part of an airport’s Flight Restriction Zone. ### Air Navigation Order (ANO) ALSO: AIR NAVIGATION ORDER 2016 The main UK law setting rules for aircraft, including drones, alongside the UK regulation on unmanned aircraft operations. The Civil Aviation Authority oversees it. ## B ### BVLOS ALSO: BEYOND VISUAL LINE OF SIGHT Flying a drone further away than the pilot can see it unaided. In the UK this needs authorisation from the Civil Aviation Authority. ## C ### C-UAS ALSO: COUNTER-UNCREWED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS, COUNTER-DRONE Everything used to protect a site or event from drones: detection sensors, command and control software, procedures and, for authorised bodies only, equipment that acts on a drone. ### Classification Deciding what a detected object is, for example a drone, a bird or an aircraft, and sometimes which make and model of drone. ### Command and control (C2) Software that brings sensors together into one picture, helps operators decide what to do and records what happened. Wardglass is Uavity’s counter-drone command and control platform. ### Common operating picture A single live view of everything in the airspace that every member of a team sees, rather than a separate screen for each sensor. ## D ### Drone ALSO: UAV, UAS, UNCREWED AIRCRAFT An aircraft flown without a pilot on board, either by remote control or along a pre-programmed route. ## E ### Effector Equipment that acts on a drone rather than just detecting it, for example a jammer, a spoofer, a net or a drone that captures other drones. In the UK only the police and other authorised bodies may use effectors. ### EO/IR ALSO: ELECTRO-OPTICAL AND INFRARED Cameras that see in visible light (electro-optical) and heat (infrared), used to confirm a detection by day or night and to capture imagery as evidence. ## F ### Flight Restriction Zone (FRZ) Airspace around a protected aerodrome where drones of any size may not fly without permission. Prisons in England and Wales have similar restricted zones reaching roughly 400 metres from each site. ### Flyer ID Proof from the Civil Aviation Authority that a person has passed the basic drone theory test. Since 1 January 2026, anyone flying a drone of 100 grams or more needs one. ## G ### Geofencing Software in some drones that stops them flying into mapped restricted areas. It is set by the manufacturer and can be unlocked or disabled, so it is not a protection a site can rely on. ## I ### Identification Working out who a drone belongs to and whether its flight is approved, for example from Remote ID or a submitted flight plan. ## J ### Jamming Transmitting radio noise to block the signals a drone relies on. In the UK it is an offence under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 for anyone not authorised. ## M ### Mitigation Acting on a drone to stop or move it, as opposed to detecting it. Also used more broadly for any step that reduces the risk a drone poses, such as moving people indoors. ## N ### NPSA ALSO: NATIONAL PROTECTIVE SECURITY AUTHORITY The UK government authority for protective security advice. It publishes guidance for site owners on drone threats and counter-drone measures. ## O ### Open category The UK category for lower-risk drone flights, covering most leisure and many commercial flights, with limits such as keeping the drone in sight and below 120 metres. Riskier flights fall into the specific or certified categories. ### Operator ID A registration number from the Civil Aviation Authority for the person or organisation responsible for a drone. It must be labelled on the drone and is included in its Remote ID broadcast. ## R ### Radar A sensor that transmits radio waves and detects their reflections, finding drones whether or not they use radio themselves. It needs a clear line of sight and has to tell drones apart from birds. ### Remote ID ALSO: RID A broadcast from a drone in flight carrying its Operator ID, serial number, position, height and course, and the pilot’s position. Required on UK1, UK2 and UK3 class drones since 1 January 2026, and on most other drones of 100 grams or more with a camera from 1 January 2028. ### RF detection ALSO: RADIO FREQUENCY DETECTION Passively listening for the radio signals between a drone and its controller. It can find drones and, with some systems, their pilots, but may miss drones flying without a live radio link. ## S ### SAPIENT An open interface standard, developed in the UK and published by BSI, that lets sensors and counter-drone systems from different makers share data. ### Sensor fusion Combining detections from different sensors into one track per object, so several sensors seeing the same drone produce one picture rather than many alerts. ### Spoofing Sending false signals, such as fake satellite navigation, to mislead or take control of a drone. Like jamming, it is reserved for authorised bodies. ## T ### Track The record of one object’s movement over time, built from one or more detections. A track carries a position, a heading and a history. ## V ### VLOS ALSO: VISUAL LINE OF SIGHT Keeping a drone close enough that the pilot can see it unaided at all times. Required for flights in the open category. ## W ### Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 The UK law governing use of the radio spectrum. It makes deliberate interference with radio signals, including jamming drones, an offence. KEEP READING - [Counter-drone FAQ](https://uavity.com/faq) Detection versus mitigation, choosing sensors and how Wardglass fits your site. - [UK drone law guide](https://uavity.com/guides/uk-drone-law) What a business can lawfully do about drones, and why jamming is off the table. - [Wardglass](https://uavity.com/wardglass) Counter-drone command and control, from first detection to final report.