Secure and Efficient Peer2Peer Authentication-Attestation Protocol for UAV Networks

The accelerating deployment of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is accompanied by escalating security concerns, especially with regard to communication protocols. Traditional cryptographic mechanisms, while functional, fall short in computational efficiency and low-latency requirements that are critical for UAV networks. Addressing these challenges, this article introduces a novel hardware-secured authentication and attestation mechanism tailored for UAV-to-UAV data exchange. The mechanism is designed to scale efficiently with UAV swarms and withstand rigorous post-deployment verifications. Our research contributions are multifaceted, comprising: 1) a feasibility and security validation of the proposed protocol via Mao-Boyd logic, providing a robust theoretical foundation; 2) empirical results that confirm the protocol’s superior performance over contemporary solutions in both speed and security; and 3) a comprehensive security and performance analysis to ensure the protocol’s resilience against potential vulnerabilities. Thus, this article presents a balanced and effective approach to secure UAV communications, satisfying both computational and security demands.