A system and method for adaptive extension of a command and control (C2) backhaul network for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) is disclosed. In embodiments, the adaptive extension includes front-end and back-end cognitive engines on either side of an extension of the C2 backhaul network to a remote control station otherwise without a point of presence (PoP). Both cognitive engines transmit test packets to the other to refine coding schemes for transmission of C2 packets across the extension based on received feedback about the transmission. When C2 packets are received from the backhaul network or remote control station, the cognitive engines select an optimal coding scheme based on packet size. The cognitive engine encodes the C2 packets based on the optimal coding scheme. When C2 packets are received from the other cognitive engine, the applicable coding schemes are identified and the C2 packets decoded accordingly.