ATRAD

ATRAD is an Australian company that develops and supplies ground-based atmospheric radar systems. Based in Thebarton, South Australia, the company builds on more than six decades of atmospheric physics research and designs its systems with an in-house team of RF engineers. Its product range covers wind profilers, scientific research radars and radar sub-systems, sold as turnkey operational installations or as modular components. ATRAD's core commercial offering is wind profiler radar, which measures wind speed and direction at altitudes up to 20,000 metres above ground level. The company supplies Boundary Layer (BLR) and Stratospheric-Tropospheric (STR) wind profilers, as well as more specialised research systems including MF radars, Meteor Detection radars and Ionospheric radars. Its EMDR meteor detection radar is marketed as the world's most capable system of its kind. ATRAD also provides radar system components for a range of applications. Since 1995 ATRAD has supplied systems, components and expertise for more than 60 major radar installations. Its systems have been deployed worldwide, from Antarctica to Svalbard and from Beijing to Alaska, serving both commercial and scientific customers. Many installations have operated unmanned and uninterrupted for over a decade. A notable recent example is the BLR12/27 boundary layer radar installed in Mildura, Victoria, as part of the Australian Bureau of Meteorology's wind profiler network. ATRAD positions itself as a specialist engineering and research-driven supplier rather than a mass-market manufacturer. The company emphasises customer service alongside scientific research and state-of-the-art design, working with customers before, during and after design and implementation, and maintaining long-term relationships with repeat business. Its customers include meteorological agencies, research institutions and other scientific organisations. The company is privately held and headquartered in Thebarton, Australia. It publishes newsletters and product brochures to keep customers informed of developments.

ATRAD was established in 1995 in South Australia, emerging from a research environment focused on atmospheric physics. The company was founded to commercialise ground-based radar technology for studying the atmosphere, building on more than six decades of atmospheric physics research. Its early work centred on developing complex, highly flexible research radar systems for scientific customers. Ground-based radar systems had been used for decades to study the atmosphere and weather, measuring phenomena such as wind velocities, turbulence, atmospheric waves, energy exchange between atmospheric layers, and the drift of ionisation trails left by meteors. Advances in signal processing technology and scientific understanding of the atmosphere in the 1990s led to the emergence of commercially viable, turnkey atmospheric radar systems. ATRAD positioned itself as a leading developer and supplier of such systems. Since 1995, ATRAD has supplied systems, components and expertise for over 60 major radar installations. The company leveraged experience from complex research systems to develop a modular systems architecture, enabling it to supply complex research systems, turnkey operational systems and radar sub-systems from a common platform. This modular approach allowed ATRAD to serve both scientific and operational markets. ATRAD's systems have been deployed globally, from Antarctica to Svalbard and from Beijing to Alaska. Many systems have operated uninterrupted and unmanned for over a decade, demonstrating robustness and reliability. The company has built long-term relationships with customers, with an impressive track record of customer retention and repeat business. A notable installation is the BLR12/27 boundary layer radar in Mildura, Victoria, installed as part of the Australian Bureau of Meteorology's wind profiler network. ATRAD continues to operate from Thebarton, South Australia, developing wind profilers, scientific radars and system components. The company remains privately held and publishes regular newsletters to communicate with its customer base.

• 2026

  ATRAD Newsletter published in September 2026.

• 2023

  ATRAD Newsletter published in October 2023.

• 2022

  ATRAD Newsletter published in April and July 2022.

• 1995

  ATRAD founded in South Australia.

• 1995

  Since 1995, ATRAD has supplied systems, components and expertise for over 60 major radar installations.

• BLR12/27 boundary layer radar installed in Mildura, Victoria, as part of the Australian Bureau of Meteorology wind profiler network.

Specialist developer and supplier of turnkey atmospheric radar systems, combining decades of atmospheric physics research with RF engineering expertise.

• Wind Profilers

  Turnkey systems including Boundary Layer and Stratospheric-Tropospheric wind profilers, measuring wind speed and direction up to 20,000m above ground level.

• Scientific Radars

  Complex research systems including MF, Meteor Detection and Ionospheric radars.

• System Components

  Radar systems components for a number of applications.

• EMDR Meteor Detection Radar

  Marketed as the world's most capable Meteor Detection Radar System.

• BLR12/27 Boundary Layer Radar

  Installed in Mildura, Victoria as part of the Australian Bureau of Meteorology wind profiler network.

1. 1ATRAD – Atmospheric radar systemsatrad.com.au
2. 2ATRAD – Atmospheric radar systems – Companyatrad.com.au
3. 3ATRAD – Atmospheric radar systems – Aboutatrad.com.au
4. 4ATRAD – Atmospheric radar systems – Productsatrad.com.au
5. 5Atrad (Australia) - Wikidatawikidata.org