Hurricane Hunters Archives

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) logo on the side of its Aircraft Operations Center in Lakeland, Fla. on April 7, 2026. The Lakeland facility is the home of the agency’s Hurricane Hunters and their fleet of aircraft designed to collected environmental data. (Madison Alder/FedScoop)

Bipartisan Senate bill would codify NOAA’s Hurricane Hunters, expand fleet

While the agency’s hurricane-piercing airplanes are already on track to be replaced, the bill would authorize $2.5 billion to expand the size of a new fleet.

Jun 18, 2026 By Madison Alder

Flight Director Kerri Englert goes over details for an emerging tech test day aboard “Miss Piggy,” one of NOAA’s two Lockheed Orion WP-3D aircraft, on April 7, 2026. (Madison Alder/FedScoop)

Simultaneous drones, better data: NOAA hurricane tech hits milestones

As hurricane season begins, the weather agency is seeing promise in drones and other emerging plane-deployed technologies.

Jun 17, 2026 By Madison Alder