Phased Array Radar

SPY-1 technology will be tested and enhanced at NSSL with the vision of using this technology to potentially upgrade the WSR-88D radars. The Department of Defense has allocated $10 million for the project which will create a testbed facility in Norman during its initial stage. SPY-1, a phased array radar, uses multiple beams and frequencies, controlled electronically, that allow it to scan the atmosphere six times faster than the WSR-88D. "Phased array radar uses electronic scanning to quickly provide a full three-dimensional picture of the atmosphere," said NSSL deputy director Doug Forsyth. "This radar could ultimately allow weather forecasters to increase the average tornado warning lead time from the current 12 minutes to as much as 22 minutes." SPY-1 was originally developed by Lockheed Martin to support tactical operations aboard U.S. Navy ships.