The article is devoted to the development of a method for increasing the efficiency of communication channels of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the conditions of electronic warfare (EW). The author analyses the threats that may be caused by the use of electronic warfare against autonomous UAVs. A review of some technologies that can be used to create original algorithms for countering electronic warfare and increasing the autonomy of UAVs on the battlefield is carried out. The structure of modern digital communication systems is considered. The requirements of unmanned aerial vehicle manufacturers for onboard electronic equipment are analyzed, and the choice of the hardware platform of the target radio system is justified. The main idea and novelty of the proposed method are highlighted. The creation of a model of a cognitive radio channel for UAVs is considered step by step. The main steps of modelling the spectral activity of electronic warfare equipment are proposed. The main criteria for choosing a free spectral range are determined. The type of neural network for use in the target cognitive radio system is substantiated. The idea of applying adaptive coding in UAV communication channels using multicomponent turbo codes in combination with neural networks, which are simultaneously used for cognitive radio, has been further developed.