An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) comprises a situational awareness system coupled to at least one onboard sensor and senses the location of other UAVs. A cooperative Radio Access Network (RAN)-signal processor is configured to process RAN signals cooperatively with at least one other UAV to increase the rank of the RAN channel and produce RAN performance criteria. A flight controller provides autonomous navigation control of the UAV's flight based on the relative spatial locations of other UAVs and the RAN performance criteria, which operates within predetermined boundaries of navigation criteria. The UAV can employ mitigation tactics against one or more UEs identified as a threat and may coordinate other UAVs to conduct such mitigations.