Citation

Baidya, Bodhisattwa and Mondal, Atanu and Das, Gourab and Khan, Inam Ullah and Ahmad, Jawad and Shah, Syed Aziz (2026) HEEFO: A lightweight cryptographic trinity for robust UAV communication security. Vehicular Communications, 60. p. 101029. ISSN 2214-2096

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Abstract

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) communication systems face significant security issues due to stringent computational limitations and real-time operational demands. Conventional cryptography methods such as RSA and standard Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) entail computing demands that are incompatible with resource-constrained UAV platforms. We introduce HEEFO, an innovative lightweight cryptographic system that seamlessly combines Hyperelliptic Curve Cryptography (HECC), Electric Eel Foraging Optimization (EEFO), and Blockchain technology to mitigate these limitations. Our Hybrid AES-HECC method produces a 15 ×  faster key generation as compared to standard ECC with the same level of 80-bit security. The EEFO algorithm optimizes cryptographic key lengths with 7 ×  and 6.5 ×  speedup over Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), reducing memory consumption by 15%. Blockchain integration guarantees unalterable authentication records with the ability for dynamic key rotation. Thorough security validation by Automated Validation of Internet Security Protocols and Applications (AVISPA) formal verification and attack simulations demonstrates 100% resistance against man-in-the-middle, tampering, counterfeiting, and brute-force assaults. The performance study indicates enhanced efficiency, with energy consumption at 20.3 mJ and communication overhead at 1472 bits, reflecting a 13–55% improvement compared to current authentication techniques. Real-world validation of the UAV testbed during a 5-hour test demonstrated that the system achieved success rates between 94 and 100%, throughput of 17 to 23 messages per second, and optimal use of resources (CPU: 20–40%, RAM: 25–35%) which resulted in only a 5.5% loss of flight time. This research is intended to provide practical methods for using lightweight cryptography on resource-constrained UAV networks to enable secure communication in real-time without degrading operational performance.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	HECC, EEFO, UAV Security, Cryptography, Blockchain, Key optimization
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HG Finance > HG4301-4480.9 Trust services. Trust companies
Divisions:	Others
Depositing User:	Ms Suzilawati Abu Samah
Date Deposited:	05 Jun 2026 07:34
Last Modified:	05 Jun 2026 07:34
URII:	http://shdl.mmu.edu.my/id/eprint/16058

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