Project Goal
Partner
Gematronik (Now Leonardo)
Client
Taiwan Air Force (ROCAF)
Overcoming Natural Restrictions to Deliver a Doppler Weather Radar
Agile project management alongside professional execution and proactive communication allows Welltek to partner with the right international supplier to deliver a new weather radar system for the Taiwanese Air Force on the remote Green Island.
Partner
Gematronik (Now Leonardo)
Client
Taiwan Air Force (ROCAF)
Project Goal
Installing a new Doppler weather radar to receive first-hand weather information
Background
Execute Project
Taiwan Air Force (ROCAF)
Issue
Off Taiwan’s southeast coast, Green Island houses a crucial Doppler weather radar system operated by the Taiwan Air Force (ROCAF). This system serves to ensure the safety and efficiency of military aircraft operations and collaborates with the Taiwan Central Weather Bureau to monitor storm and typhoon formation in the Pacific. After two decades, the radar requires replacement due to outdated technology, essential for maintaining the accuracy of real-time weather data collection.
Project
Project Requirements
Laying sensitive telecommunication equipment and utilities, reinforcing existing structures, and ensuring the radome offered perfect weatherproof protection for the new radar.
Project Plan
We had a clear understanding of the procedures, documentation, and specification requirements needed to collaborate with public agencies.
Welltek’s
Services
Preemptive Renovation
Telecommunication and
Utility Construction
Radar Installation
Communication Support and
Document Preparation
Challenges &
Solutions
Careful Planning for Fulfilling
Military Contracts
Military contracts can be demanding for suppliers. With strict criteria to adhere to, it is not uncommon for these types of projects to be canceled prematurely under intense pressure. To prevent potential suppliers shying away from these intricacies, Welltek took responsibility as the prime contractor to fulfill duties ranging from carefully planning procedures and refining the specification requirements to guaranteeing the project’s successful execution.
Working in Challenging Natural
Environmentsr
As Green Island is a relatively small and isolated location, Welltek tapped into our local industrial knowledge to source the right subcontractors capable of handling the task. Exposed to the elements on the island’s highest point, we carefully planned and scheduled our work to coincide with the most appropriate time of the year to minimize any disruptions from natural causes.
Advancing Cross-Disciplinary
Expertise
Installing a Doppler weather radar is a technical challenge as it involves a wide range of knowledge beyond engineering and installation, such as signal processing, radio frequency, control, and mechanical operation. Welltek coordinated our people alongside subcontractors to fulfill every aspect of the project, from technical systems to radar housing structure. This ensured a successful result that served the Air Force effectively.
Results
After more than two years of traveling back and forth from our Taipei office to Green Island under scorching hot weather, Gematronik’s radar has been successfully installed at the ROCAF weather monitoring site. Following installation, Typhoon Nepartak hit the island. However, thanks to Welltek’s high-quality construction, the radar’s robust structure withstood extreme weather conditions while enabling Nepartak to be tracked, and its excellent wind durability and waterproofing prevented it from being damaged
Due to the success of this project, the ROCAF has since reached out to Welltek for future collaboration.
Danny Chang
Former CEO | Welltek International ITS Inc.
