Successful installation of South Africa’s very first dual polarized S-Band weather radar

SELEX-Gematronik successfully completed the installation of South Africa’s first dual polarized S-Band weather radar. With the installation of this state-of-the-art technology, the South African Weather Service (SAWS) has acquired the most precise and comprehensive set of weather radar surveillance capabilities available on the market today.

In 2008 SELEX-Gematronik and local partner SAAB Security and Aviation were awarded the contract to supply a country-wide network of 12 weather radar systems to SAWS in order to enhance the level of radar coverage and the accuracy of weather forecasts and storm warnings in South Africa.

The South African Weather Service currently operates 12 weather radars mostly at C-Band. This weather radar modernization project involves the supply of 10 METEOR 600S (S-Band) and 2 METEOR 50DX (X-Band) systems. The switch to S-Band intends to counter deterioration of far range microwave signals and offer redundant coverage of major metropolitan areas.

The award of this contract demonstrates again the confidence in SELEX-Gematronik’s ability to deliver complex country-wide weather radar networks.

Profile of SELEX Sistemi Integrati GmbH:

SELEX-Gematronik is the technology leader in weather radar systems worldwide, providing best-in-class systems in C-, S- and X-Band. Over the last decade, more than 250 highend systems of the METEOR product line have been put into operation for leading meteorological service providers in over 60 countries on all continents.