Dubai Airshow 2025 – Moog ROMDAS™: assessing roads and runways conditions
Moog showcased several of its latest defence technologies at the Dubai Airshow 2025, including the ROMDAS airfield laser foreign object debris (LFOD) detection system
The ROMDAS™ is a modular surveying system developed by Moog, designed to deliver rapid and highly accurate surface condition assessments for both roads and airfield pavements. Its dvanced laser-based technology enables precise acquisition of longitudinal and transverse profiles, effective regardless of lighting and weather conditions.
Automatic crack detection is at the heart of ROMDAS capabilities. It identifies all types of cracks—longitudinal, transverse, complex, and even repaired ones—while recording their width, depth, length and exact location. The system also analyses rutting across each lane, measuring rut depth, width and section shape for a comprehensive damage map.
ROMDAS quantifies surface macro-texture according to key indices (MPD, ETD, SCD, MTD), meeting ASTM and AASHTO standards. It detects potholes, ravelling, delamination, bleeding, joint faults, and routine defects found on both rigid and flexible pavements. The integrated GNSS and inertial unit records geometry parameters such as slope, crossfall and curve radius, positioning assets precisely in real time.
One major advantage for military operators is ROMDAS™’ Foreign Object Debris (FOD) module, which detects objects as small as 5 mm anywhere on the platform, facilitating immediate risk mitigation for fighter and transport aircraft. Its scanning width reaches 5 metres in a single pass, covering military runways and aprons at operational speeds of up to 100 km/h, day or night. The scan frequency peaks at 28,000 transverse profiles per second, with vertical resolution as fine as ±0.1 mm.
All collected data is georeferenced and mapped, enabling maintenance teams to locate defects and debris with pinpoint accuracy. The system demonstrates robust environmental protection (IP-65), operates with low power consumption, and complies with international laser safety standards. Exported imagery is compatible with asset management and GIS platforms, ensuring seamless integration into military workflow.
When deployed in military environments, ROMDAS enhances operational safety by detecting FOD in real time, rapidly highlighting critical surface damage and facilitating preventive maintenance. By continually monitoring runway condition, it helps reduce incident risk, improve aircraft availability and support the operational tempo of forward-deployed air units. With its rugged design and rapid scanning capability, ROMDAS is a strategic asset for defence airfield management, safeguarding high-value platforms and ensuring that infrastructure remains mission-ready.
ROMDAS TM stands as an essential solution for armed forces, enabling dynamic, accurate and proactive runway surveillance, and contributing decisively to the safety and availability of military air operations. ROMDAS, is integrated into Moog digital Airfield solutions portfolio, which includes the Tarsier® FOD Radar system. Automation bird and drone detection. The DAS solution is currently being utilised by the U.S. DoW.
Photos courtesy Moog
