[JosieTennis]

If the drones had transponders that could be tracked in the U-space, and there was an ATM model adopted that could track them, then this wouldn't be a mystery. Thales (https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/worldwide/aerospace/press_rel...) and Airbus (https://www.airbus.com/en/innovation/autonomous-connected/ai...) both say they have a model that tracks drones, even hobby drones.

[seszett]

One would assume that people who fly their drones in banned airspace would disable transponders.

[gravescale]

I'm quite interested how the ground control station for that is set up, or if it's flying autonomously and in radio silence. If you're illicitly controlling a drone, presumably you don't want to be standing around holding a great big radio transmitter like a Vegas searchlight pinpointing your location. And you also don't want the drone to be broadcasting either since modern planes are bristling with electronic warfare sensors.