Next-Generation UAV Base Stations: Enabling Integrated Sensing, Communications, and the Low-Altitude Economy

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue, titled “Next-Generation UAV Base Stations: Enabling Integrated Sensing, Communications, and the Low-Altitude Economy”, in the journal Drones. UAV-based base stations (UAV-BSs) are poised to reshape the architecture of next-generation wireless networks, offering agile, intelligent, and rapidly deployable communication infrastructure across diverse scenarios—ranging from dense urban centres and rural regions to post-disaster environments.

This Special Issue emphasizes the convergence of UAV-BSs with emerging technologies such as Integrated Sensing and Communications (ISAC), Digital Twinning, Open Radio Access Networks (O-RAN), and Low-Altitude Economy applications like aerial logistics, smart agriculture, and urban air mobility. Additionally, with the advancement of High-Altitude Platforms (HAPs), Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, and Space–Air–Ground Integrated Networks (SAGINs), UAV-BSs are rapidly expanding into multi-layered communication ecosystems that integrate terrestrial, aerial, and spaceborne systems for ubiquitous wireless communications anticipated in 6G networks.

This Special Issue highlights state-of-the-art research and future directions for UAV-BSs within intelligent and sustainable network architectures. We invite contributions exploring theoretical innovations, algorithms, frameworks, and experimental validations that address the challenges of mobility, energy, orchestration, interoperability, and scalability in such complex environments. The scope aligns with Drones’ mission to disseminate multidisciplinary drone research in sensing, autonomy, communication, and real-world applications.

We welcome original research articles, short communications, and comprehensive review papers. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following research areas:

• Integrated sensing and communications (ISAC) in UAV-BS operations;
• Digital Twin models for UAV-based network planning, control, and simulation;
• Open RAN (O-RAN) with aerial or semi-autonomous base station components;
• UAV-BSs in the context of the Low-Altitude Economy (e.g., logistics, inspection, and urban air mobility);
• AI-driven optimization for UAV-BS trajectory, load balancing, and resource management;
• Swarm intelligence and multi-agent coordination in aerial networks;
• Energy efficiency, battery-aware design, and wireless charging strategies;
• Edge intelligence and federated learning for in-flight decision-making;
• Channel modelling and propagation in air-to-ground and air-to-air scenarios;
• 6G technologies for UAVs: THz, RIS (Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces), and NOMA;
• High-Altitude Platforms (HAPs) and LEO satellite integration with UAV-BSs;
• Space–Air–Ground Integrated Networks (SAGINs) and their implications for UAV-BSs;
• Simulation testbeds, regulatory frameworks, and real-world field trials;
• Security, privacy, and trust in aerial and non-terrestrial network systems.

Dr. Attai Ibrahim Abubakar
Dr. Metin Öztürk
Dr. Oluwakayode Onireti
Dr. Animesh Yadav
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Drones is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• UAV base stations
• AI-driven drones
• swarm intelligence
• UAV-based integrated sensing and communications (ISAC)
• trajectory optimization
• digital twinning
• aerial edge computing
• energy-efficient UAV communications
• space–air–ground integrated network (SAGIN)
• 6G