Japan's Weather Prediction Outlook Looking Bright with DRS Sensors Inside Next-Generation Weather Satellites

DRS Technologies, Inc., a Finmeccanica Company, announced today that it provided multiple sensors on two of the latest Japan Meteorological Agency's next-generation weather satellites. Both satellites, referred to as Himawari-8 and Himawari-9, were built by the Mitsubishi Electric Corporation.

DRS has thirty-two sensors in each satellite, ranging from the visible band (470nm) to the long-wave infrared band (13.3um), giving the systems the ability to make observations with greater frequency and in more spectral bands than the satellites they were designed to replace.

"DRS is pleased to be a part of this amazing advance in weather forecasting technology," said Sally Wallace, president of DRS Technologies' C4ISR business group. "Our Cypress, California team is a world leader in the development of sensor technologies which are employed with multiple uses around the globe," she continued.

The Himawari-8, which was recently launched, and Himawari-9, scheduled to launch in 2016, will observe weather conditions from geostationary orbit at 140 degrees east longitude. The satellites will provide unprecedented precision in monitoring clouds and other weather conditions, along with volcanic ash and atmospheric aerosols, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency website.