Diploma in Critical UAS Detection
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in critical UAS detection. 8 modules covering the UAS threat to infrastructure, radar, RF, electro-optical and acoustic detection, sensor fusion and C2, the legal framework and system deployment, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Critical UAS Detection — studying from New Zealand
New Zealand's defence engineering sector is centred on the New Zealand Defence Force, which operates land, sea and air capabilities, with major bases at Linton and Burnham. Defence procurement and sustainment are managed through the Ministry of Defence, and local firms support maintenance, communications and vehicle systems. Land systems engineering is closely linked to the country's agricultural and forestry sectors, where ruggedised vehicles and equipment are developed and maintained.
Fees for New Zealand: NZ$1,770 (New Zealand dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in New Zealand
Typical roles
Questions from New Zealand
How is defence and military engineering recognised in New Zealand?
Engineering registration is handled by Engineering New Zealand, and defence procurement and security clearances are managed through the New Zealand Defence Force and government procurement processes. Security clearance requirements can matter more than academic credentials for some roles. SEIUM is a private institute, and its qualifications are not accredited by a national body, so recognition rests with the employer.
What defence and land systems employers operate in New Zealand?
Opportunities arise with the New Zealand Defence Force, Defence Technology Agency, defence industry suppliers and engineering firms serving land systems and vehicles. Many roles require citizenship or security clearance. A private online qualification may support an application, but it does not guarantee a position, and clearance and experience usually weigh more heavily.
Is it possible to study from New Zealand without a visa, and can my employer pay?
Yes, programmes are 100% online and taught in English, so no student visa is needed to study from home. Each includes an assigned technical tutor and a final project. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible. Specialist courses take 300 hours, diplomas 800 and master's 1,900, so plan your workload carefully.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Analyse the risk that UAS pose to critical infrastructure.
Understand how short-range radars for drone detection work.
Apply passive radio-frequency detection techniques.
Integrate electro-optical and acoustic sensors with automatic recognition.
Design fusion and command-and-control architectures.
Apply the legal framework and the principle of proportionality in the response.
Plan the evaluation and deployment of a detection system.
Who it's for
- C-UAS systems engineers.
- Critical infrastructure security analysts.
- Radar engineers moving into drone detection.
- RF sensor specialists.
- Security systems integrators.
- Airport protection consultants.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter the security sector.
What you'll work with
- Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945 (UAS and third-country operators)
- Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 (rules for operating UAS)
- Spanish Law 8/2011 (critical infrastructure protection)
- Directive (EU) 2022/2557 (CER, resilience of critical entities)
- ASTM F3411 (remote ID and tracking)
- Spanish Law 11/2022 (General Telecommunications Act)
- EUROCONTROL ASTERIX (surveillance data exchange format)
- Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR, data protection)
- MATLAB Radar Toolbox
- GNU Radio
- Ultralytics YOLO
- OpenCV
- QGIS
8 modules
1.1Classification of UAS by size and performance1.2Incidents at airports and facilities1.3Critical infrastructure and Spanish Law 8/20111.4Site vulnerability analysis1.5Misuse profiles1.6The detect, identify, track and respond chain1.7Responsibilities of the security forces1.8Coordination with aviation authorities1.9User requirements for a C-UAS system1.10Case study: risk analysis of an airport
2.1Short-range surveillance radars2.2Radar cross-section of small drones2.3FMCW and Doppler radar2.4Micro-Doppler for classification2.5Clutter and bird discrimination2.6Persistent-staring 3D radar2.7Coverage and siting2.8Probability of detection and false alarm2.9Integration with existing surveillance2.10Lab: analysis of micro-Doppler signatures
3.1Drone command and video protocols3.2Passive RF detection3.3Radio direction finding3.4Remote identification according to ASTM F34113.5Model identification by signature3.6Limitations against autonomous drones3.7Urban electromagnetic environment3.8RF sensor calibration3.9Signature libraries3.10Exercise: signal capture with SDR
4.1Visible and thermal cameras4.2Optical tracking with pan-tilt platforms4.3Microphone arrays for acoustic detection4.4LiDAR for detecting aerial objects4.5Environmental conditions and range4.6Recognition with deep learning4.7Datasets and training4.8False alarm management4.9Technology comparison4.10Workshop: training a YOLO detector
5.1Multi-sensor architecture5.2Track fusion and tracking filters5.3Classification and threat level5.4Operator interfaces5.5Integration with physical security systems5.6Data exchange in ASTERIX format5.7Alert management5.8Event logging and traceability5.9Multi-site deployments5.10Case study: fusion architecture for a power plant
6.1Regulations (EU) 2019/945 and 2019/9476.2Spanish UAS regulations6.3UAS geographical zones6.4Spectrum use and the General Telecommunications Act6.5Privacy in detection6.6Proportionality of the response6.7Powers to neutralise6.8Response protocols6.9Chain of custody of evidence6.10Workshop: response protocol for an intrusion
7.1C-UAS system evaluation methodologies7.2Field trials with cooperative drones7.3Performance metrics7.4European evaluation projects7.5Sensor site selection7.6Installation and calibration7.7Maintenance and upgrades7.8Operator training7.9Procurement and total cost7.10Exercise: field trial plan
8.1Site characterisation8.2Risk analysis and requirements8.3Sensor selection8.4Coverage and siting8.5Fusion and C2 architecture8.6Legal response protocol8.7System evaluation plan8.8Conclusions8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on SEIUM's campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so it fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original regulation and applied exercises. The working software is MATLAB Radar Toolbox, GNU Radio, Ultralytics YOLO, OpenCV and QGIS, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: field trials with cooperative drones, analysis of radar and radio-frequency signatures and coverage studies of critical sites. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945, Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947, Spanish Law 8/2011 on critical infrastructure protection, Directive (EU) 2022/2557 (CER), ASTM F3411, Spanish Law 11/2022 (General Telecommunications Act), EUROCONTROL ASTERIX and Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR).
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. A university degree is not required.
- Internet connection and a computer able to run the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with MATLAB Radar Toolbox, GNU Radio, Ultralytics YOLO, OpenCV and QGIS, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), a computer able to run the software and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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