The Tempest UAS: The VORTEX2 Supercell Thunderstorm Penetrator

The Tempest UAS was developed to demonstrate the feasibility of in-situ sampling of supercell thunderstorms with small unmanned aircraft, operating under the constraints of FAA certificates of authorization. The UAS and the mission concept of operations were validated with the interceptions and sampling of six supercell thunderstorms during the spring 2010 VORTEX2 field deployment. A description of the science drivers for the engineering requirements is presented. The mission concept of operations that determined the performance requirements for the airframe, and command, control, and communications systems are then discussed, and results of the supercell flights are shown.