Feature Highlights

FCS Compatible

Faster - MET Data Every 30 Minutes

Improved Accuracy/Increased Range - More Accurate Across 60 km Battlespace

 

Reduced Logistics: Only 4 Balloon Flights per 24-Hour Period & 15% Vehicle Footprint Reduction

Smiths Detection is a recog­nised leader in the design, development, manufacture, and field support of integrated ­meteorological systems for military applications. The Meteorological Measuring Set ­­Profiler (MMS-P) AN/TMQ-52 offers the Armed Forces a ­mod­ernised, real-time meteor­ological capability over an extended 500-km battle space. 

The system incorporates a modified and customized version of the MM5, the most widely used and ­accepted mesoscale meteorological model in the world.

A vastly improved radiosonde system provides highly ­accurate local meteorological parameters from the surface to an altitude of 30km. This radiosonde system features a simplified and improved oper­ator interface and utilizes GPS. 

A combination of the mesoscale meteorological model and post processing capability allows the number of balloon flights to be reduced by 50% over the previous MMS system while meeting the requirement to provide meteorological messages every 30 minutes. It is anticipated that as technology matures, the number of balloon flights will be further reduced and may eventually be eliminated.

Contract
Initial award was an Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) program, which resulted in the delivery of four MMS-P systems. 13 production systems are being built. MMS-P has completed Developmental and Operational Test and has been fielded. The contract includes options for additional ­MMS‑­P production systems, which may be exercised during the 2005 to 2008 timeframe. At least 82 ­additional production MMS-P ­systems are anticipated.

Concept
The MMS-P uses the MM5 ­mesoscale meteorological model to assimilate data from a variety of sources to provide the best meteorological messages to the user in a timely fashion. The system ingests meteorological data from both ground-based sensors and satellites. Data from sources such as geo-­stationary meteorological satellites can be assimilated if received through other systems. The MMS-P modular design will allow for easy insertion of new MET sources as they become available.

The data is used to affect the operation of the mesoscale ­meteorological model and for post processing of the data so that all the required meteor­ological messages can be generated. Finally, an operator interface, in conjunction with the message generation and formatting software, facilitates communication between the MMS-P and all other systems that require interoperability with MMS-P.

Interoperability
The MMS-P will ­interoperate with the AN/TMQ-41 and AN/TMQ-41A Meteorological Measuring Sets, Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data Systems (AFATDS), High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS), Fire Direction System (FDS), and other MMS-Ps.

Future Growth
The MMS-P has been designed to meet the needs of future growth. Interfaces have been incorporated for:

Future wind profiler radar

Upgraded computers

New antenna configurations

Smaller equipment

Incorporation of data from NPOESS (available 2008/2010)

Incorporation of additional sensor data

Incorporation of an RDF antenna

The MMS-P offers an affordable, functioning system now, with the eventual insertion of the RF profiler and other modern technologies of the future.