The Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) has contracted Vaisala to deliver a €25m (US$27m) weather radar system.
18 dual-polarization C-band weather radars
The contract includes 18 dual-polarization C-band weather radars (WRM200), which will be installed by the end of 2026, along with a maintenance and service agreement for 2024–2026. It is complemented by an option for the delivery of two WRS300 weather radars – which use completely new semiconductor transmitter technology – for the first time in Europe. WRS300 provides superior performance and reliability with lower lifetime costs.
Dual-polarization radars accurately detect the different forms and intensities of precipitation and can remove non-meteorological data, such as insects, from the data set.
Vaisala’s largest single project
The project is reportedly the largest single order for Vaisala ever. The contract will be signed after the public procurement appeal period has ended, and the order will be booked to Vaisala’s orders received after the contract has been finalized.
Jarkko Sairanen, executive vice president of weather and environment at Vaisala, commented, “I am very happy that our long-term collaboration with the Spanish State Meteorological Agency continues with these new weather radars. We have already modernized the signal processors and IRIS weather radar software of the existing weather radar network, which will also be further updated within this contract. The new radars will be integrated into the Europe-wide OPERA weather radar network, enhancing weather forecasting quality not only for Spain but also across the broader European context. Accurate weather data provided by the radars will also improve the capability to predict extreme weather events such as hailstorms. Winning this significant tender competition is a testament to the prowess of Vaisala’s weather radars.”
In related news, Vaisala recently launched the Vaisala Xweather Insight weather confidence platform, which combines the company’s measurement technology, proprietary Xweather data sets, and AI and machine learning technology into a software and sensors solution. Click here to read the full story.