Athena Security has unveiled its new drone detection model to aid in detecting drone components before they can be assembled or reach secure perimeters.

The frequency of major drone incidents worldwide has risen more than 60% and the US Federal Aviation Administration has reported a 25.6% increase in illegal drone incursions since 2024.

In response to increasing drone threats, Athena Security has developed a drone defense system.

According to Athena, the newly unveiled Drone Defense Detection Model is integrated into the company’s AI Assisted X-ray screening system to detect and flag drone components, including those hidden within cargo or luggage, before they can be assembled or reach secure perimeters.

This will empower government sites, airports, transportation hubs and critical infrastructure operators to act before a threat becomes an incident.

Rising threat from inexpensive drones

Athena highlights incidents that have been caused by inexpensive drones:

• In October 2025, Munich Airport cancelled 17 flights and grounded nearly 3,000 passengers after overnight drone sightings forced a seven-hour shutdown
  
• In September 2025, multiple drones halted all take offs and landings for nearly four hours at Copenhagen Airport, disrupting dozens of flights across Scandinavia
  
• Later, in the same month of September 2025, a drone intrusion near Fuerteventura Airport in Spain’s Canary Islands caused diversions and delays, disrupting travel for hundreds of passengers.

These incidents underscore a simple truth: Adversaries and malicious actors now have the means to easily threaten both military and civilian targets at low cost with limited warning.

“No longer a viable defense”

Chris Ciabarra, Co-founder and CTO of Athena Security commented: “Today’s drones are inexpensive, stealthy and scalable. Waiting for an incident is no longer a viable defense.

“Our goal is to give critical infrastructure operators a chance to stop threats before they reach the secure perimeter, whether the threat arrives by backpack, cargo bay or is assembled onsite.”

Protecting national assets with pre-emptive drone defense

Athena Security’s new AI x-ray model extends its advanced x-ray screening suite beyond conventional threats like knives and guns.

With advanced machine learning designed to classify drone components or detect signatures within carry-on or cargo items, Athena’s Drone Detection System can flag suspicious items before a drone is even assembled inside a secured zone.

In other countries, military-grade drones have been smuggled into restricted territories in pieces and later assembled for attacks.

A similar threat exists for civilian settings such as airports. However, to date, no systems have been developed to actively screen for this risk in the US.

By enabling x-ray systems to recognize both assembled and unassembled drone components, Athena Security helps airports, energy facilities and other critical infrastructure stop potential threats at the door long before they enter restricted zones.

Athena Security says that its Drone Detection Model Capabilities include:

• High-fidelity feature recognition – Detecting motors, propellers, electronics, battery packs and structural drone components, even when disguised or compact
  
• Low false-positive tuning – The model is optimized to reduce nuisance alerts in complex environments
  
• Integration with access control – When a drone payload is flagged, the system triggers alerts, lockdown procedures or security interventions
  
• Scalability – The AI X-ray Drone Detection Model is deployable at checkpoints, perimeter gates, cargo ingress points and even unmanned checkpoint stations
  

Athena Security’s foray into drone detection is a proactive, future-focused strategy that anticipates the growing use of drones in surveillance, smuggling, sabotage and asymmetric attacks across the United States and its allies.

“We built it”

Ciabarra adds: “One of our clients had a drone incident that compromised their airspace. They needed a way to detect small drones and their components before they became a threat.

“They understood the risks and asked if we could help – so we built it.”

Defending infrastructure and public spaces from drone threats

• As drones proliferate, threat vectors will expand: Border zones, ports, stadiums, data centers, critical infrastructure and logistics hubs all become potential targets
  
• Governments and private operators increasingly demand proactive countermeasures rather than reactive “take-down” solutions
  
• Athena Security’s drone detection feature is positioned as a natural extension to its existing AI X-ray, adding a potent layer of protection for entities already adopting advanced screening

Advancing the future of US drone defense

Domestic concerns such as illicit drone surveillance, smuggling and asymmetric attacks are prompting states, municipalities and private sector operators to reassess perimeter defense.

Athena is actively engaging with federal, state and municipal agencies to pilot deployments of its AI X-ray Drone Detection Model.

The company is also exploring partnerships with counter-UAV (C-UAV) vendors, electronic warfare providers and security integrators to develop end-to-end layered systems combining detection, interception and physical response.