Effective strategies in defining critical infrastructure protection principles among UAV threats using thematic analysis methodology

Nowadays, drone threats have become one of the most significant and influential aspects of threats in warfare. The possibility of using drones in wartime and non-wartime conditions against countries, on the one hand, and the history of drone threats against some national infrastructures in recent years, on the other hand, have highlighted the necessity of paying serious attention to the issue of drone threats more than ever. This research has been conducted with the aim of identifying and formulating principles for the protection of critical infrastructure against drone threats. In fact, it can be said that if the formulated principles are implemented in existing and future critical infrastructures, a significant degree of vulnerabilities to drone threats will be reduced. From the perspective of its purpose, this research falls under applied studies and has been conducted using the qualitative method of thematic analysis. Since macro principles are derived from micro textual data, the research process is inductive. The research data were collected through two methods: documentary and library studies, as well as interviews with experts. The research results led to the identification of 12 fundamental principles, which are as follows: the principle of intelligent combined defense, the principle of layered defense, the principle of self-reliance, the principle of consequence management, the principle of infrastructure self-protection, the principle of prioritization, the principle of strengthening, the principle of innovation and updating, the principle of dispersion and division, the principle of modern camouflage and concealment, the principle of service chain immunity, and the principle of reducing attractiveness. In the end, an operational definition of each identified principle was provided to standardize the interpretations of the acquired principles.