Raytheon Completes Nationwide Rollout of Modernized National Weather Service Data System

 Raytheon Company has completed its rollout of the nation’s next-generation weather data system, which may help enable the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) to make even more precise and timely weather predictions. The company’s Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System II (AWIPS II) is now operational at all NWS offices across the U.S. and its territories, providing advanced data analysis and visualization capabilities.

"The development and rollout of AWIPS II builds on Raytheon’s 10 year partnership with the NWS to maintain and operate the weather predicting capabilities that are so critical to commerce, safety and quality of life across the country," said Dave Wajsgras, president of Raytheon Intelligence, Information and Services (IIS). "The modernized AWIPS II processes significantly more data from even more sources than the previous system, enabling better, more accurate forecasts."

Raytheon installed AWIPS II at more than 140 NWS offices located from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Fairbanks, Alaska. The new system can also be accessed on laptops when mobility matters, including the use of the system by meteorologists who are supporting firefighters battling wildfires.

"Raytheon engineers worked with forecasters to build the tools and processes for a seamless migration to AWIPS II without any disruption to daily forecasting," said Matt Gilligan, vice president of Navigation and Environmental Systems at Raytheon IIS. Gilligan added, "The new system preserved thousands of customized applications at local offices, a critical need in providing individualized forecasts across the country."

The new system now employs enhanced weather data analysis and visualization tools across the environmental enterprise, including such futuristic technologies as Raytheon’s Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), one of the space-based assets providing data to AWIPS. Raytheon also offers such ground-based capabilities as the Joint Polar Satellite System Common Ground System, which provides command and control for various environmental satellites.