The Radar Next Program Act of 2026 would require the Under Secretary (in consultation with the Director of the National Weather Service) to create a program called the Radar Next Program. The Under Secretary must set performance and coverage requirements for the U.S. weather radar network, work with the weather enterprise on solutions, and make a plan to replace the National Weather Service's Next Generation Weather Radar (NEXRAD) system. The plan must describe expected improvements to performance, coverage, and accuracy; include development and testing of a phased array radar; follow recommendations from a 2023 NESDIS Observing System Backbone Framework report; establish a weather surveillance radar testbed to evaluate commercial and small gap-filling radars; seek input from academia, emergency managers, and other users; list priority and expected deployment sites (including sites more than 75 miles from an existing NEXRAD station); and describe expected data improvements for forecasts and warnings. The bill allows the Under Secretary to partner or contract with non-NOAA entities to fill radar coverage gaps (called radar-as-a-service), consider partnering with testbed participants and the National Mesonet Program, and consider weather camera systems in consultation with the FAA. The plan must be fully implemented by September 30, 2040. The Under Secretary must give periodic updates to two Congressional committees. Definitions reference the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017.
If enacted, the bill directs a federal effort to study and plan a replacement for the current NEXRAD network. That could lead to new radar technologies being tested (including phased array and commercial systems), more local or small gap-filling radars in areas with difficult terrain, and possible contracts with private or nonfederal providers to provide radar data. The bill aims to improve radar coverage and the ability to detect precipitation and severe weather across a larger area. A full rollout is planned to be completed by 2040. The text does not promise immediate changes or give a schedule of deployments now.
No publicly available information on costs, funding sources, or budget estimates is included in the bill text.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.