Weather System Follow-on

Abstract

In FY 2023, PE 1206422SF, Weather System Follow-On, Project 644289, Weather Satellite Follow-On, R-1 Line #8 efforts were transferred to PE 1206422SF, Weather System Follow-On, Project 65A039, Weather System Follow-on - Microwave (WSF-M), R-1 Line #20 reflecting the successful completion of Milestone B on 15 May 2020. Weather System Follow-on program 1206422SF consists of Space Situational Awareness Environmental Monitoring (SSAEM) Project 65A038 and WSF-M Project 65A039. SSAEM Project 65A038 is a non-ACAT, Class D technology demonstration project to support the international Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere and Climate 2 (COSMIC-2) mission. The SSAEM program provides the acquisition, development and launch/on-orbit support of 18 space/terrestrial weather sensors to COSMIC-2 partnership in coordination with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Taiwan Space Agency (TASA). COSMIC-2 launched six satellites in an equatorial, Low Earth Orbit (LEO) with 3 SSAEM sensors in each spacecraft in FY 2019. The sensor types are Tri-Global Navigation Satellite System (Tri-GNSS) Radio occultation System (TGRS), Ion Velocity Meter (IVM) and Radio Frequency Beacon (RFB). The SSAEM sensors will address three distinct Joint Requirement Oversight Committee (JROC)-approved Category A weather capability gaps, specifically Gap #4 (Ionospheric Density), Gap #7 (Equatorial Ionospheric Scintillation) and Gap #12 (Electric Field), to provide additional space meteorological data to improve forecast capabilities and improve warfighter navigation/communication capabilities. The Weather Satellite Follow-on - Microwave (WSF-M) Project 65A039 includes funds for the WSF-M system, the Compact Ocean Wind Vector Radiometer (COWVR) technology demonstration, and the Energetic Charged Particle (ECP) sensor development. Weather System Follow-on (WSF) is a Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) microwave imaging system developed and delivered by the United States Space Force's Space Systems Command (SSC). WSF is the next generation of space-based passive microwave sensing technology. It will provide U.S. and Allied warfighters with essential weather data, including the measurement of ocean surface wind speed and direction, ice thickness, snow depth, soil moisture, and local spacecraft energetic charged particle environment. The ocean surface wind speed measurement enables tropical cyclone intensity determination by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. The data gathered by WSF will be provided to meteorologists in support of the generation of a wide variety of weather products necessary to conduct mission planning and operations globally. WSF is an Acquisition Category IB program comprised of two Space Vehicles (SV) and their associated command, control, and data dissemination network. Global environmental monitoring data is gathered, stored, and down-linked through the Satellite Control Network (SCN) and disseminated to Air Force and Navy weather centers. Additionally, data is broadcast real time by the satellite for utilization by heritage Direct Readout Terminals that use the data for local weather forecasting. WSF is a Major Defense Acquisition Program (MDAP) with the Space Force as the lead component. Founded on the Space-Based Environmental Monitoring (SBEM) Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) results, the WSF will be to enable: 1) Timely weather collection over broad oceans in support of maneuvering forces; 2) Space weather capabilities to characterize operational orbits, space situational awareness, and the ionosphere. Secondary investments may be supported to address weather gaps identified in the SBEM AoA and validated by the JROC. COWVR is an on-orbit demonstration project of the new COWVR technology to deliver Weather Gap #3, Ocean Surface Vector Winds (OSVW) and Gap #8, Tropical Cyclone Intensity (TCI). ECP supports the SBEM Weather Gap #11, Low Earth Orbit Energetic Charged Particle Characterization. To support this requirement, the ECP sensor will be integrated on the WSF-M satellites. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver WSF for weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program elements 1206392SF and 1206398SF. This program is in Budget Activity 5, System Development and Demonstration (SDD) because it has passed Milestone B approval and is conducting engineering and manufacturing development tasks aimed at meeting validated requirements prior to full rate production.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2025
• Source ID: 1206422SF_5_3620F_PB_2025
• Change Summary Explanation: FY 2023: -1.610M for SBIR/STTR transfer FY 2025: +$2.025M FY25 POM Adjustment (+$2.038M BPAC 65A038 and -$0.013M BPAC 65A039) FY 2025: The FY 2025 funding request was reduced by $3.8 million to account for the availability of prior year execution balances.
• Service Agency Name: Air Force

Entities

Organizations

• United States Air Force

Tags

Fields of Study

• Environmental science

Readers

• Aerospace Engineering.
• Atmospheric Science/Meteorology

Technology Areas

• Space
• Space - Satellites