BUAS: A Blockchain-Enabled Trust-Aware Security Architecture for Scalable and Resilient UAV Networks

Abstract

The growing deployment of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in critical infrastructures introduces a complex web of security, trust, and performance challenges particularly as networks scale and interact with heterogeneous edge environments. This paper presents BUAS, a novel Blockchain enabled UAV Architecture that integrates Bayesian trust m odeling, encrypted UAV to ground station communication, and a lightweight Proof of Work consensus tailored for energy constrained aerial nodes. By decoupling the system into three security centric domains UAV, Ground Control Station (GCS), and Blockchain w e enforce domain specific constraints while preserving cross domain integrity. Experimental results demonstrate BUAS’s superior threat detection accuracy against GPS spoofing and DoS attacks, significant latency resilience in networks exceeding 100 nodes, and a marked reduction in energy overhead compared to conventional cryptographic frameworks. Furthermore, we propose a behavior aware authentication protocol that adapts to real time UAV feedback, reducing false positives in anomaly detection. Through simu lation and case study deployment in power grid surveillance, BUAS validates its scalability, robustness, and practical viability. The framework offers a critical blueprint for future UAV systems aligned with emerging 6G, AI, and decentralized security para digms.