Lockheed Martin Ventures Invests in Meteomatics: Revolutionizing Weather Forecasting with High-Resolution Models and Hyperlocal Drones
Today, Meteomatics, the pioneering weather intelligence and technology firm, disclosed the successful closure of a strategic funding round with Lockheed Martin Ventures, the enterprise arm of Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE: LMT). This strategic investment marks a big step in Meteomatics’ mission to rework weather forecasting through cutting-edge technology.
Lockheed Martin Ventures’ investment will empower Meteomatics to scale its high-resolution weather and climate technology, reaching recent heights in accuracy and reliability. The Pennsylvania-based company plans to utilize the funding to expand into diverse markets and industries, amplifying its impact on weather forecasting globally.
Meteomatics stands out as the only entity employing a weather model with an unparalleled 1 km resolution, updating every hour and delving right down to street-level precision, says an organization release. This capability allows the identification of minute meteorological phenomena comparable to thunder, hail, and storms. In contrast, existing government and business weather commentary technologies operate at resolutions starting from 10-50 km and update only 3-4 times day by day, leaving a big gap in detecting and forecasting low-level airspace weather events.
To attain such precision in weather forecasting, Meteomatics employs Meteodrones, weather drones able to flying as much as 6 km (20,000 feet). These drones collect data, combined with information from 110 other sources, to create high-resolution weather models. The result’s unparalleled accuracy for hyperlocal weather impacts, aiding businesses in strategic decision-making.
Lockheed Martin Ventures strategically invests in corporations on the forefront of core business and emerging markets crucial to Lockheed Martin. The investment will facilitate Meteomatics’ expansion into industries comparable to energy, aviation, insurance, defense, and government, while also paving the way in which for entry into recent markets.
Chris Moran, Vice President and General Manager of Lockheed Martin Ventures, commented on the potential impact of Meteomatics’ technology, stating, “Meteomatics’ weather intelligence has the potential to offer the U.S. and its allies a greater understanding of the dynamic environments during which assets and personnel operate, each improving operational effectiveness and reducing risk.”
Meteomatics has turn out to be a cornerstone for industry leaders, providing precision weather intelligence to corporations like CVS Health, Tesla, Swiss Re, Airbus, Toyota, Volkswagen, and EDF Energy. Dr. Martin Fengler, Founder and CEO of Meteomatics, emphasized the critical role accurate weather forecasts play in informed decision-making for businesses facing an increasing number of maximum weather events.
Headquartered in St. Gallen, Switzerland, with operations in Germany, Spain, the UK, and the U.S., Meteomatics launched operations within the U.S. in 2023 with the country’s first Meteodrone at GrandSky Aviation Park’s Weather Operations Center.
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