S. 3795: Radar Next Program Act of 2026

This bill, known as the Radar Next Program Act of 2026, aims to establish a new program for improving and updating the weather radar network used by the United States. Below is a summary of the major components of the bill.

Establishment of the Radar Next Program

The bill directs the Under Secretary, in collaboration with the Director of the National Weather Service, to create a program called the Radar Next Program. This program will focus on enhancing the weather radar system that covers the U.S. and its territories.

Requirements for the Program

Under this program, the Under Secretary will:

• Develop specific performance and coverage standards for the country's weather radar network.
• Work with the weather community to identify options for upgrading the existing radar systems to meet the new standards.
• Create a comprehensive plan for replacing the current NEXRAD (Next Generation Weather Radar) system.

Plan for Replacement of the NEXRAD System

The plan to replace the NEXRAD system will include the following elements:

• Estimates of improvements in radar performance, coverage, and accuracy.
• Development of a phased array radar to assess specifications for the replacement.
• Actions required to implement recommendations from recent reports on radar systems.
• Creation of a testbed for evaluating new commercial radars and helping local entities implement smaller radars where necessary.
• Consultation with experts for insights on the necessary specifications for the replacement.
• Prioritization of locations for initial radar deployment and identification of additional locations for future deployment.
• Improvements in data from the new radar system to enhance weather and water forecast accuracy.

Timeline for Implementation

The Under Secretary is tasked with ensuring that the replacement system plan is fully executed by September 30, 2040.

Radar-As-A-Service Initiative

The bill allows the Under Secretary to collaborate with external entities to address existing gaps in weather radar coverage. This initiative aims to:

• Fill data gaps in radar coverage using advanced technologies.
• Maintain the operational efficiency of the weather radar network.
• Enhance the detection of significant weather events across a larger area.

Consultation Considerations

In the implementation of the Radar-As-A-Service initiative, the Under Secretary may consider partnering with entities that have previously tested radar systems, as well as using weather camera systems that may improve forecasting capabilities.

Periodic Updates to Congress

The Under Secretary will provide regular updates to relevant congressional committees regarding the progress of the initiatives outlined in this bill.

Definitions

The bill includes specific definitions for terms such as Under Secretary and weather enterprise, referencing existing statutory definitions.

Relevant Companies

• RTX (Raytheon Technologies Corp): Likely to be involved in the development and implementation of new radar technologies, given their expertise in aerospace and defense technologies.
• NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration): As a government agency, this entity would be directly engaged in managing the transition to new weather radar systems.