Weather continues to be an important factor in military operations. The more precision required in a military engagement, the more important it is to have detailed in situ information regarding meteorological parameters such as wind and precipitation.
Selex Systems Integration has a large portfolio of S-band, C-band and X-band Doppler radar systems, which allow for the precise measurement of precipitation and wind speeds. For military applications, the company recommends the METEOR 50DX, a mobile system that typically covers an area of up to 100km. The 50DX is mounted on a trailer, meaning it is easy to deploy. Dual polarisation capability makes it possible to distinguish between different kinds of precipitation (snow, different rain intensities and hail) as well as identify and track sandstorms or ash clouds.
The strength of a modern weather radar system lies in the provision of meteorological nowcasting information; for example, a detailed three-dimensional current picture of the amount and type of precipitation, as well as precise wind speeds and wind directions in a radius of approximately 100km in X band. Based on the data collected, forecasts for up to 30 minutes are possible.
This makes a weather radar system an important tool for tactical decisions in theatre rather than longer-term planning, which is mostly based on larger-scale sensors such as fixed radar networks, satellites and meteorological modelling. In remote areas, however, very often only satellite data is available, which makes a deployable meteorological radar the only source of high-resolution data.
Selex Systems Integration plays a leading role in meteorological radar technology, both hardware and software. The company’s most important differentiator is its ability to package a high-end system – including dual-polarisation – into a ruggedised mobile trailer, which can be used in a military context. It also has extensive experience in designing ergonomic man-machine interfaces (MMI) that make a significant contribution to the decision-making of commanders in theatre.
In addition, Selex Systems Integration is a turnkey provider of meteorological radar projects. Services comprise the delivery of complete radar networks including infrastructure such as towers, datalink and powerlines.
