Israeli UTM developer High Lander integrates Thirdeye Systems’ MeduzaX optical radar into its Vega platform in a multi-aircraft trial designed to clear the path to routine BVLOS drone operations.
High Lander and Thirdeye Systems announced July 13, 2026, the launch of a joint field program deploying a multi-aircraft, ground-based detect and avoid capability. Under a newly signed memorandum of understanding, the companies say the trial is designed to move beyond visual line of sight drone flight from case-by-case approvals to routine operations at scale.dronelife+1
Why ground-based DAA matters
Lower-level airspace worldwide operates under visual flight rules, where separation depends on pilots seeing one another. That reliance on the human eye has made BVLOS drone flight difficult for regulators to approve, according to the companies, because an uncrewed aircraft has no on-board pilot to see and be seen. A ground-based detect and avoid capability changes that equation by giving the airspace itself a reliable way to sense traffic and keep aircraft apart.
The current trial is examining Thirdeye’s autonomous optical system as a complement to, and potentially an alternative to, the human observer, and mapping where it fits within a wider operational ecosystem.
Inside the field trial
Drones operated by Dronery and a helicopter operated by Brook Aviation flew a series of separate passes so the system’s detection could be measured against that of a ground observer. The passes covered demanding conditions: aircraft above and below the horizon, targets seen against open sky and against terrain, approaches from the direction of the sun, and varied lighting. A controlled approach scenario between the helicopter and the drones then examined whether the system can flag a developing conflict in time to matter.
The long-term value does not rest on standalone detection, according to the companies. The broader objective is validating how real-time optical tracking data can be ingested, processed and used inside a centralized, multi-operator traffic environment.
“BVLOS operations are the future of aviation, opening up new possibilities for business, public safety, security, and defense,” said Alon Abelson, chief executive and co-founder of High Lander. “Getting there requires more than just tracking; it requires total airspace clarity. By bridging the gap between traffic management and sophisticated optical detection, we are giving the industry the transparency and safety standards the next era of aviation depends on.”
From optical detection to a common operating picture
Thirdeye supplies the automated optical layer through its MeduzaX passive optical radar, which uses edge computing to process raw environmental data without latency. The MeduzaX feed integrates directly into High Lander’s Vega UTM platform, which aggregates inputs from detection and counter-UAS technologies into a single command and control view. Cross-referenced with flight plans managed by the Orion drone fleet management platform, the system displays authorized cooperative traffic as blue targets and uncoordinated or unauthorized aircraft as red, enabling Identification Friend or Foe for airspace managers.dronelife+1
“Persistent ground-based observation addresses a critical vulnerability in lower-airspace awareness, particularly regarding non-cooperative traffic,” said Lior Segal, chief executive of Thirdeye Systems. “Our automated sensing technology is designed to deliver consistent tracking data without reliance on onboard aircraft transponders. This field trial program establishes a concrete baseline for how ground-based optical radar can safely support uncrewed flight paths and integrated traffic frameworks.”
What comes next
High Lander and Thirdeye intend to continue evaluating the system across further conditions and use cases. The trial reflects a wider industry shift toward permanent infrastructure that makes routine autonomous flight possible, rather than case-by-case exemptions. High Lander, founded in 2018, also supports drone delivery in Brazil and Thailand and manages Israel’s mandatory nationwide UTM with its Vega platform. Thirdeye’s MeduzaX system is operational with the Israeli Defense Forces.dronelife
More information is available at High Lander.
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