Ashdod, Israel: Ashdod Port Company has completed a landmark proof-of-concept for an autonomous drone ecosystem operating inside a live maritime environment, marking a major step toward the integration of unmanned systems within critical infrastructure. The pilot was conducted under the Port’s Maritime Technology Hub, Blue Ocean CVC, and brought together multiple technology partners to demonstrate real-time autonomous flight management, AI-driven analytics, and airspace control capabilities.
The ecosystem integrates technologies from Airwayz, Sentrycs (acquired by Ondas Holdings Inc.), FlightOps, Propeller Drones, and Dynamic Infrastructure. Together, the companies tested a multi-layered operational framework capable of supporting security, safety, maintenance, and logistics missions inside one of Israel’s busiest ports. The project reflects a broader global shift toward UTM-enabled smart ports and builds on experience deployed at the Port of Rotterdam.
Central to the pilot is Airwayz’s Autonomous Tactical Airspace Command & Control System (ATACCS), a dynamic UTM and C2 platform designed to autonomously authorize drone flights, allocate mission priorities, designate safe corridors, and detect unauthorized aerial activity. By linking airspace management with sea and land operations, the Port gains a unified operational picture intended to improve safety and decision-making across all departments
Shaul Schneider, Chairman of Ashdod Port, said the initiative positions the port “at the forefront of innovation in Israel and worldwide,” noting that drones now serve as an added protective layer for a strategic national facility that must remain continuously operational. He highlighted Rotterdam’s similar model as a template for Ashdod’s modernization efforts.
Nissan Levy, CEO of Ashdod Port, said autonomous drones enhance not replace human workforces, adding that the Port continues to seek technologies that raise efficiency and reinforce security.
Airwayz CEO Eyal Zor described the system as an “autonomous control tower” that gives port operators full command of the skies, including mission approvals and real-time detection of unauthorized drones. He said the pilot showcases what a “smart and connected port” looks like when sea, land, and air operations are digitally linked.
Roi Avrahami, Head of the Maritime Technology HUB (Blue Ocean CVC), said the ability to manage the port’s airspace adds a critical layer of safety by preventing conflicts between drones, ships, and infrastructure while maintaining complete situational awareness. He called the pilot an important step toward building safer, smarter, and more efficient ports with direct economic value.
Ashdod Port is now evaluating plans to scale autonomous drone operations across its facilities and its international Innovation Embassies network.
