Sec. 605. Next generation digital radar
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Congress finds that— the national weather radar network is aging, and procurement and replacement must begin by early in the decade commencing with the year 2030; research by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on next generation radar systems has largely focused on the development of a phased array radar for severe weather forecasting; a phased array radar system can achieve precise measurements of precipitation rates and conditions through a rapid scan of the atmosphere to reveal critical weather thumbprints that point to the potential of severe weather; though initially established through the joint collaboration between the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the potential for use of the phased array radar for severe weather observations has emerged as the focus; lifetime operations and maintenance costs will be significantly reduced due to the simple, digital process for updating the digital array radar system; and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration must continue to conduct crucial technical risk reduction research to be ready for the next generation of radar networks.
The Under Secretary shall develop, in collaboration with the Assistant Administrators for Weather Services and Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, and utilizing NOAA’s existing academic partners for implementation, a technical risk reduction program, that will lead to the baseline requirements to procure an all-digital ground based phased array radar system for initial deployment by no later than 2032. At a minimum, such a program must demonstrate the ability to significantly improve the accuracy of severe weather forecasts while lowering long term Federal operating costs.
The program described in subsection
(b)shall focus on the following activities: Definition of key system requirements needed to cost effectively lead to significantly improve weather forecasting accuracy and precision through a nationwide all-digital ground based phased array weather radar system. Identification of critical technologies and subsystems on the critical path to the development of an all-digital phased array system, and an investment schedule to reduce risk in each designated area. Development of a full-scale digital phased array radar demonstrator that will meet requirements set in paragraph (1). Development of a multi-year effort to strengthen ties between NOAA and its public university based academic partners so as to maintain an ongoing reservoir of science and technology talent to help to guide and advise Federal program managers on the implementation and use of an all-digital phased array radar system. Of the amounts otherwise made available to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Operations, Research, and Facilities Action, there are authorized to carry out this section $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 and 2023.