Oreyeon Lda – Autonomous Runway Inspection for European Strategic Autonomy

Europe’s airfields face an invisible threat that can ground aircraft and jeopardize missions: debris and damage on runways. In 2000, a stray metal strip on a Paris runway caused the tragic Concorde crash, underscoring how critical runway inspections are[1]. Traditionally, ground crews slowly sweep runways for foreign object debris (FOD) and pavement cracks – a labor-intensive process prone to human error. Enter Oreyeon, a deep-tech startup headquartered in Coimbra, Portugal[2]. Oreyeon is pioneering an AI-driven Runway Surface Monitoring System (RSMS) that promises to revolutionize airfield safety. Its technology can automatically detect FOD and runway damage in real time, day or night, using intelligent sensors mounted on airfield vehicles. Having proven its system at major airports in Dubai and Doha and even on U.S. Air Force bases[3], Oreyeon now turns to the European market. By offering a home-grown solution to a global aviation safety challenge, this startup has caught the attention of both civil aviation operators and defense stakeholders. Can a small European company like Oreyeon enhance Europe’s strategic autonomy in critical airfield operations? The following analysis explores Oreyeon’s technology and strategic positioning – and what it means for Europe’s security and independence in the aerospace domain.