Data acquisition system for aerospace applications Windsond S2

airborneembeddedportable

Subtitle
Encrypted weather data acquisition system

The challenge
Collecting weather data for artillery and special operations requires a secure, lightweight and highly mobile system capable of operating across a wide range of altitudes while ensuring data security and integrity. Teams operating in remote or hard-to-reach areas face unpredictable weather, limited visibility and dynamic atmospheric conditions. Limited ground infrastructure or personnel for real-time acquisition means decisions are often taken under time pressure and uncertainty. Weight and helium consumption are key logistical constraints.

Our solution
HENSOLDT’s encrypted weather data acquisition system is a secure, ultra-lightweight and highly mobile solution tailored to military applications including artillery, airborne forces and special operations. The compact kit comprises a radiosonde (Windsond S2 by Sparv Embedded AB), a ground station and control software, all housed in a portable transport case. The system transmits atmospheric parameters to a ground station to provide input data for precise artillery firing solutions and aerial drop-point determination. Probes operate in two modes: an ascending atmospheric sonde carried by a helium balloon or a drop sonde slowed by a small parachute. The system is designed for ease of use and rapid deployment.

Security
The system operates in approved ISM bands (400–440 MHz) or temporarily authorised military frequencies, uses low transmission power to reduce detectability, and implements LoRa modulation with AES-128 encryption. Cut-down and delete functions protect sensitive data such as encryption keys and GPS coordinates.

Features

• Total system weight including portable case: just 3 kg
• Meets STANAG 4082 and STANAG 4140 requirements
• Cut-down and delete functions secure sensitive data (encryption keys, GPS data)
• Multiple sounding supported
• Internal battery for the ground station (up to 15 hours)
• Developed in accordance with EN 302 054, the harmonised European standard for meteorological aids

Benefits

• Provides accurate weather data in remote and challenging environments
• Supports fast, secure decision-making under time pressure
• Extremely lightweight and easy to transport for flexible deployment
• Long communication range ensures reliable data transfer
• Suitable for artillery, airborne, and special operations forces
• Meets military and meteorological standards for high reliability
• All relevant meteorological data formats available: MET-CM, MET-3B, .temp, Wind-Layers, etc.
• CE-certified

Technical specifications

• Product composition: radiosonde (Windsond S2 by Sparv Embedded AB), ground station, control software, portable transport case
• Modes of operation: ascending atmospheric sonde (helium balloon) and drop sonde (parachute)
• Communication bands: approved ISM bands 400–440 MHz or temporarily authorised military frequencies
• Modulation & encryption: LoRa modulation and AES-128 encryption
• Total system weight (including portable case): approximately 3 kg
• Ground station internal battery runtime: up to 15 hours
• Security functions: cut-down and delete functions for sensitive data (encryption keys, GPS data)
• Standards: meets STANAG 4082 and STANAG 4140; developed in accordance with EN 302 054
• Supported meteorological data formats: MET-CM, MET-3B, .temp, Wind-Layers, etc.
• Certification: CE-certified