America’s Weather Advantage: Billions at Stake
Weather-related disasters cost the U.S. economy billions annually across aviation, agriculture, energy, and emergency response sectors. NSSL’s uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) research is helping position America to lead the global weather technology market while protecting lives and economic interests through two breakthrough capabilities: weather-sensing UAS and survey UAS.
UAS technology is transforming weather observation and disaster response. NSSL research proves these systems deliver scientific, economic, and societal returns while maintaining America’s competitive edge in critical weather technology.
Weather-Sensing UAS: Filling the Data Gap
Traditional weather stations and satellites leave a critical data gap in the lower atmosphere—exactly where most impactful weather develops. This blind spot costs lives and billions in economic losses both from disasters and lost opportunity for efficiency.
Survey UAS: Seeing What Eyes Can’t
Traditional damage assessment methods are slow, expensive, and often put personnel at risk. Collection of information that is representative of the undisturbed impacts from a severe event depends on rapid deployment prior to intervention or clean-up efforts. UAS offer effective tools for collecting these data.
Game Changing Technology
CopterSonde: Proven Innovation
- 3,000+ successful research flights in extreme conditions
- Delivers high-resolution profiles of pressure, temperature, humidity, and wind
- Licensed and commercialized within the U.S. market
- Fills critical data gaps where traditional observing methods often fail
Next-Gen Platforms: PRODIGEE and LAAIRS Development
Through projects supported by NOAA’s OMAO UxSOC, NSSL is collaborating with OU-CIWRO to advance the CopterSonde technology to meet NOAA and NSSL mission requirements. The recent Progressive Research and Optimization of a Durable and Independent Generation of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (PRODIGEE) and ongoing Laboratory for Advanced Atmospheric Investigation using Robotic Sondes (LAAIRS) projects are developing the UAS platform required to collect the data when it is needed and where it is needed.
- Hurricane-force winds (74+ mph)
- 10,000-foot flight ceiling
- Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) capabilities
- Automated operations (landing, charging, flight capability)
- U.S.-based supply chain through public-private partnerships
Breakthrough Achievements
Potential Operational Impact: Protecting Lives and Property
Research outcomes show that NSSL weather-sensing UAS data improved forecast accuracy for storm intensity and positioning, for the 2023 Rolling Fork, MS EF-4 tornado. This demonstrates the potential for immediate operational value beyond research applications; using UAS data in operational forecast models could directly support the tools that help NSSL partners make life-saving warnings and emergency decisions.
International Leadership: Global Collaboration
The 2024 SCALES project brought 15 institutions from across the country and around the world with their 45+ UAS platforms to Oklahoma. Partnering with the World Meteorological Organization, over 1,000 successful flights demonstrated demonstrated the feasibility of a 3D UAS network across the state and within an urban region (map below), showing America’s leadership in atmospheric research while establishing global standards.
Collaborations between NSSL, the academic sector, and private industry foster innovation and while delivering value to all stakeholders. These partnerships are demonstrated with NSSL and International Met Systems working together to advance weather sensing UAS.
Multi-Sector Benefits
- Weather forecasting and emergency response: enhanced prediction accuracy
- Aviation and transportation: reduced weather-related delays and accidents
- Agriculture and energy: improved planning and risk management
- Insurance and reinsurance: better risk assessment and pricing
Revolutionary Capability
UAS-Based Damage Assessment
- Cost-effective, rapidly deployable option for post-storm surveys
- Collects photos, video, and multispectral data at ultra-high resolution
- Provides both visible info and quantitative measurements of impacts
- Various platforms enable safe operations in post-disaster environments
From Scientific Legacy to National Leadership
In 1973, field imagery helped NSSL scientists understand Doppler radar data leading to the Tornado Vortex Signature revolutionizing warnings. Ted Fujita’s subsequent work set the foundation for severe weather assessment. Today’s UAS-based surveys echo this proven approach: combining cutting-edge observational data with field experiences to unlock new understanding. The difference is scale and precision—NSSL’s modern capabilities keep America ahead.
Historic Achievement
Unprecedented Coupled Lidar Wind–UAS-Based Impact Dataset
The NSSL LIFT team deployed several field assets throughout the lifecycle of the May 18, 2025 Arnett, OK EF-3 tornado. Particularly unique, the NSSL Doppler lidar is believed to have collected the first ever direct lidar observations of a tornado. Survey UAS collected damage data over the same area of the tornado’s path, creating an unprecedented dataset linking rapid, very near- surface tornadic wind observations to ground impacts.
Operational Impact
- Enhanced NWS ratings: UAS survey helped upgrade the Arnett tornado from preliminary EF-2 to EF-3
- Reduced personnel risk: safe operations from safe position in potentially dangerous post- disaster environments
- Data partnerships: Rapid deployments can collect data that hold value for emergency managers and disaster response; sharing data with partners can support response during critical periods
Strategic Advantages
✓First-mover advantage in operational weather UAS technology
✓Proven track record with immediate operational benefits
✓Scalable solutions ready for national deployment
✓Economic returns across multiple high-value sectors
✓International leadership in critical atmospheric research
The Bottom Line
NSSL’s dual UAS capabilities—weather-sensing and survey systems—represent a strategic opportunity for America’s weather resilience and technological leadership. With billions in annual weather-related losses at stake and growing international competition, continued NSSL UAS research and development delivers measurable returns in lives saved, economic protection, and global competitiveness. America leads in weather technology. NSSL ensures we stay ahead.