Review

Cognitive Electronic Warfare In The Continuous Control Missions Of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: A Comprehensive Review From An Artificial Intelligence Perspective

Number: Advanced Online Publication Early Pub Date: September 22, 2026
TR EN

Cognitive Electronic Warfare In The Continuous Control Missions Of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: A Comprehensive Review From An Artificial Intelligence Perspective

Abstract

This study examines cognitive architectures that enable Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to autonomously sustain continuous control tasks such as target search, detection, acquisition, and tracking under asymmetric Electronic Warfare (EW) threats. The inadequacy of traditional rule-based algorithms against dynamic jamming and spoofing attacks has necessitated the evolution of platforms into systems with high situational awareness and learning capabilities. Through AI-driven hybrid processes, aerial platforms gain the competence to react instantaneously to asymmetric and unpredictable conditions, thereby executing their missions end-to-end in an uninterrupted manner. In this context, the study investigates the relationship between the continuous control tasks of UAVs and Cognitive Electronic Warfare (CEW) in the modern battlefield, and presents model examples commonly used in the literature for each task. Furthermore, the role of adaptive control mechanisms in preserving flight stability against cyber-physical manipulations is analyzed. The models examined reveal that UAV systems with constrained hardware resources can achieve operational continuity and tactical superiority in intensive EW environments. The presented cognitive framework serves as a guide for transforming the UAV continuous task cycle into a hybrid ecosystem with spectrum awareness, integrated with EW elements.

Keywords

References

  1. [1] K. Teixeira, G. Miguel, H. S. Silva, and F. Madeiro, “A Survey on Applications of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Using Machine Learning,” IEEE Access, vol. 11, pp. 117582–117621, 2023, doi: 10.1109/ACCESS.2023.3326101.
  2. [2] H. A. Hashim, “Advances in UAV avionics systems architecture, classification and integration: A comprehensive review and future perspectives,” Results in Engineering, vol. 25, p. 103786, Mar. 2025, doi: 10.1016/j.rineng.2024.103786.
  3. [3] M. A. Alanezi et al., “Dynamic Target Search Using Multi-UAVs Based on Motion-Encoded Genetic Algorithm with Multiple Parents,” IEEE Access, vol. 10, pp. 77922–77939, 2022, doi: 10.1109/ACCESS.2022.3190395.
  4. [4] X. Zhao, W. Zhang, H. Zhang, C. Zheng, J. Ma, and Z. Zhang, “ITD-YOLOv8: An Infrared Target Detection Model Based on YOLOv8 for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles,” Drones, vol. 8, no. 4, p. 161, Apr. 2024, doi: 10.3390/drones8040161.
  5. [5] M. H. Rahman, M. A. S. Sejan, M. A. Aziz, R. Tabassum, J.-I. Baik, and H.-K. Song, “A Comprehensive Survey of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Detection and Classification Using Machine Learning Approach: Challenges, Solutions, and Future Directions,” Remote Sensing, vol. 16, no. 5, p. 879, Mar. 2024, doi: 10.3390/rs16050879.
  6. [6] B. Selma, S. Chouraqui, and H. Abouaïssa, “Fuzzy swarm trajectory tracking control of unmanned aerial vehicle,” Journal of Computational Design and Engineering, vol. 7, no. 4, pp. 435–447, Aug. 2020, doi: 10.1093/jcde/qwaa036.
  7. [7] B. Zhao, Y. Zhou, R. Song, L. Yu, X. Zhang, and J. Liu, “Modular YOLOv8 optimization for real-time UAV maritime rescue object detection,” Sci Rep, vol. 14, no. 1, p. 24492, Oct. 2024, doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-75807-1.
  8. [8] X. Wu, W. Li, D. Hong, R. Tao, and Q. Du, “Deep Learning for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle-Based Object Detection and Tracking: A survey,” IEEE Geosci. Remote Sens. Mag., vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 91–124, Mar. 2022, doi: 10.1109/MGRS.2021.3115137.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Electronic Warfare

Journal Section

Review

Early Pub Date

September 22, 2026

Publication Date

-

Submission Date

March 14, 2026

Acceptance Date

September 14, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Number: Advanced Online Publication

APA
Battal, O., & Karahan, M. (2026). Cognitive Electronic Warfare In The Continuous Control Missions Of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: A Comprehensive Review From An Artificial Intelligence Perspective. Savunma Bilimleri Dergisi, Advanced Online Publication. https://doi.org/10.17134/khosbd.1909594
AMA
1.Battal O, Karahan M. Cognitive Electronic Warfare In The Continuous Control Missions Of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: A Comprehensive Review From An Artificial Intelligence Perspective. Savunma Bilimleri Dergisi. 2026;(Advanced Online Publication). doi:10.17134/khosbd.1909594
Chicago
Battal, Onur, and Mert Karahan. 2026. “Cognitive Electronic Warfare In The Continuous Control Missions Of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: A Comprehensive Review From An Artificial Intelligence Perspective”. Savunma Bilimleri Dergisi, no. Advanced Online Publication. https://doi.org/10.17134/khosbd.1909594.
EndNote
Battal O, Karahan M (September 1, 2026) Cognitive Electronic Warfare In The Continuous Control Missions Of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: A Comprehensive Review From An Artificial Intelligence Perspective. Savunma Bilimleri Dergisi Advanced Online Publication
IEEE
[1]O. Battal and M. Karahan, “Cognitive Electronic Warfare In The Continuous Control Missions Of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: A Comprehensive Review From An Artificial Intelligence Perspective”, Savunma Bilimleri Dergisi, no. Advanced Online Publication, Sept. 2026, doi: 10.17134/khosbd.1909594.
ISNAD
Battal, Onur - Karahan, Mert. “Cognitive Electronic Warfare In The Continuous Control Missions Of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: A Comprehensive Review From An Artificial Intelligence Perspective”. Savunma Bilimleri Dergisi. Advanced Online Publication (September 1, 2026). https://doi.org/10.17134/khosbd.1909594.
JAMA
1.Battal O, Karahan M. Cognitive Electronic Warfare In The Continuous Control Missions Of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: A Comprehensive Review From An Artificial Intelligence Perspective. Savunma Bilimleri Dergisi. 2026. doi:10.17134/khosbd.1909594.
MLA
Battal, Onur, and Mert Karahan. “Cognitive Electronic Warfare In The Continuous Control Missions Of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: A Comprehensive Review From An Artificial Intelligence Perspective”. Savunma Bilimleri Dergisi, no. Advanced Online Publication, Sept. 2026, doi:10.17134/khosbd.1909594.
Vancouver
1.Onur Battal, Mert Karahan. Cognitive Electronic Warfare In The Continuous Control Missions Of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: A Comprehensive Review From An Artificial Intelligence Perspective. Savunma Bilimleri Dergisi. 2026 Sep. 1;(Advanced Online Publication). doi:10.17134/khosbd.1909594