STRATFI Contract Awarded to Advance Next-Gen Weather Data from Space
USAF Awards $15 Million to PlanetiQ
The US Air Force has awarded a $15 million, 48-month Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) contract to PlanetiQ to support the development and launch of spacecraft that will deliver high-value weather data.
“This award represents a major step forward in delivering more advanced, actionable weather information to the warfighter.”
Ira Scharf, PlanetiQ
The mission will focus on advancing Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)-RO (radio occultation), GNSS-PRO (polarimetric radio occultation), and GNSS-R (reflectometry) capabilities. In addition, the program includes the development of advanced data assimilation techniques to integrate enhanced GNSS-PRO data into Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models, improving forecast accuracy and enabling new insights into atmospheric conditions.
After spacecraft commissioning, PlanetiQ will provide on-orbit data delivery during the contract period. This will support multiple applications across the Department of the Air Force, to include artificial intelligence (AI) model training, data assimilation, and performance evaluation.
“This award represents a major step forward in delivering more advanced, actionable weather information to the warfighter,” said Ira Scharf, CEO of PlanetiQ. “By combining GNSS-RO, PRO, and R measurements in a single platform, we are unlocking a more complete picture of the atmosphere and Earth’s surface. We are proud to partner with the U.S. Air Force to accelerate these capabilities and bring next-generation environmental data into operational use.”
As a commercial provider of GNSS-RO data, PlanetiQ currently operates a global constellation of satellites, including spacecraft equipped with advanced receivers capable of capturing high signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) GNSS-RO and GNSS-PRO measurements. GNSS-PRO has demonstrated strong efficacy for measuring precipitation, a key capability for improving severe weather forecasting.
This STRATFI award will enable the development of a next-generation receiver that adds GNSS-R capabilities, supporting new applications such as ocean surface wind measurement, sea state characterization, and soil moisture monitoring over land.