Remote ID (RID)

The digital licence plate that most drones broadcast by law.

Remote ID is the continuous radio broadcast that identifies a drone in flight: a serial or registration number, live position, altitude, velocity and the location of the pilot at take-off. The United States requires it under FAA Part 89, the EU under EASA rules with ASD-STAN PrEN 4709, the UK phases it in through 2026–2028, and China mandates its own GB format for aircraft sold in that market. An RID receiver receives these broadcasts and turns them into timestamped records — the layer that produces usable evidence. It cannot see aircraft that do not broadcast; for those, see spectrum detection.