Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System

<h2 id="history">History</h2>
<p>AWIPS replaced the Automation of Field Operations and Services (AFOS) system which had become obsolete and was very difficult to maintain. AWIPS was originally developed and maintained by PRC, Inc (later acquired by <a href="/facts/Northrop_Grumman/M6keKE1A">Northrop Grumman</a> Information Technology) with installation completed in 1998.
</p><p>Since 2005, <a href="/facts/Raytheon/wGGxdMoD">Raytheon</a> has been NWS’ partner for the operations, maintenance and evolution of AWIPS, providing the integrated mission services required to sustain and enhance system performance. It is a five-year contract with five one-year award terms for a potential maximum 10-year contract.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a>
</p><p>Teaming with Raytheon are <a href="/facts/Keane_(company)/sYC7BCaB">Keane</a> Federal Systems, Globecomm Systems Inc., <a href="/facts/GTSI_Corp./E55fMDyu">GTSI Corp.</a>, <a href="/facts/ENSCO%2c_Inc./FaR7B59k">ENSCO</a>, Reston Consulting Group, Fairfield Technologies, Centuria Corporation,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> and Earth Resources Technology. Together they provide software operations and maintenance, software development, hardware maintenance and logistics, commercial off-the-shelf software maintenance, satellite communications, and network monitoring and control.
</p>
<h2 id="evolution">Evolution</h2>

<p>As the architect of the AWIPS evolution, <a href="/facts/Raytheon/wGGxdMoD">Raytheon</a> designed, developed, and released the system's next-generation software known as AWIPS II. AWIPS II, which features a new <a href="/facts/Service_oriented_architecture/g8krR0dk">service oriented architecture</a> (SOA) began roll-out in late 2011. This new system simplified code and consequently strengthened system performance while reducing the maintenance burden. All of this is achieved while retaining a system look and feel that makes the AWIPS evolution appear similar to the user.
</p><p>The AWIPS program office is working in conjunction with the <a href="/facts/National_Centers_for_Environmental_Prediction/hFHpe17S">National Centers for Environmental Prediction</a> (NCEP) to incorporate the NAWIPS baseline software used by the NCEP centers, <a href="/facts/National_Hurricane_Center/P2Y72V5Q">National Hurricane Center</a> (NHC) / Aviation Weather Center (AWC) / <a href="/facts/Storm_Prediction_Center/IVs7uAyX">Storm Prediction Center</a> (SPC) as well as the <a href="/facts/Weather_Prediction_Center/Pe8LEC8R">Weather Prediction Center</a> (formerly Hydrometeorological Prediction Center) and <a href="/facts/Ocean_Prediction_Center/I4bkVkM9">Ocean Prediction Center</a> (WPC and OPC) into the AWIPS II baseline.  The commissioning of a new AWIPS site, the first since the <a href="/facts/Huntsville%2c_Alabama/Rdu00gpd">Huntsville</a> Weather Forecast Office in 2002, will also be part of this effort at the <a href="/facts/Space_Weather_Prediction_Center/LVcA59n3">Space Weather Prediction Center</a> (SWPC) in Boulder, CO.
</p>
<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/First_Warning/qtDqzF2G">First Warning</a>, a computer-based alerting system used to disseminate watches, warnings and advisories via broadcast television.</li></ul>

<ul><li>Ferris, Nancy (2000). <a href="https://www.govexec.com/magazine/2000/04/advanced-weather-system/7140/">"Advanced Weather System"</a>, <i>Government Executive</i>.</li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1"><p>"Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS) Hardware". National Weather Service Field Systems Operations Center Test and Evaluation Branch. Archived from the original on 2014-12-08. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141208180757/https://www.nws.noaa.gov/ops2/ops24/awips.htm" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20141208180757/https://www.nws.noaa.gov/ops2/ops24/awips.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:2"><p>"Overview of the AWIPS System". National Weather Service Louisville, Kentucky. Archived from the original on 2013-02-23. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130223215325/http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lmk/?n=awipsoverview" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20130223215325/http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lmk/?n=awipsoverview</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:3"><p>"Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System". RTX Corporation. Retrieved 2025-01-25. <a href="https://www.rtx.com/raytheon/what-we-do/space/awips" target="_blank">https://www.rtx.com/raytheon/what-we-do/space/awips</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:4"><p>Centuria Corporation. "Sub Contracts" https://www.centuria.com/our-contracts <a href="https://www.centuria.com/our-contracts" target="_blank">https://www.centuria.com/our-contracts</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
</ol>

Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System open-in-new

Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System