PAR is a “non-rotating” radar that uses electronic steering to scan the sky. Unlike traditional radar dishes that take minutes to spin around, a PAR can scan the entire atmosphere in seconds or “track” a specific thunderstorm while simultaneously monitoring for aircraft, providing near-continuous data for fast-evolving severe weather.
The 2026 search focus is on the “SENSR” program, which aims to replace both weather and aviation radars with a single PAR system. Professionals look for “SENSR deployment timelines” to see when the first operational PAR units will replace the aging NEXRAD fleet. The primary hurdle is cost, but the ability to provide 30-second updates on tornado formation is driving heavy political pressure for funding.
Because PAR is solid-state (no moving parts), it can be made in smaller, more reliable units. Pros search for “Dense PAR Networks” to see how cities are deploying “X-band PAR” on top of buildings to fill in the “blind spots” created by the curvature of the earth. These networks are essential for predicting flash floods in mountainous cities like Denver or Los Angeles.
MPAR is the “holy grail” of radar technology. It allows the same hardware to serve the FAA (tracking planes) and the NWS (tracking storms) simultaneously. In 2026, searches for “MPAR data multiplexing” involve the complex algorithms that allow a radar to “decide” where to point its energy—scanning a dangerous storm more frequently while still keeping an eye on air traffic.