Abstract : The long-term goal is to provide the Nation with enhanced weather radar that improves the detection of severe weather resulting in increased warning lead times and the saving of lives and property. Objectives: Build and operate the first surveillance phased array radar facility available on a full-time basis to the radar meteorological research community. The new system will be able to scan the atmosphere with more detail than the current radars. It will also be able to re-scan areas of severe weather very quickly, improving forecasters warning capability. In addition, the new technology will gather storm information not currently available, such as rapid changes in wind fields; to provide forecasters with better conceptual storm models and to initialize stormscale forecast models.