In a pivotal move for national aviation safety, President Luis Abinader officially inaugurated a new C-Band Solid-State Dual-Polarization Doppler weather radar on 25 February 2026. The government reports the new WRS300 radar was a RD$250 million investment.
Located at the Dominican Aeronautical Complex adjacent to Las Américas International Airport (SDQ), the facility marks a historic milestone in the government’s efforts to modernize the national meteorological system and strengthen airspace operational security.
The director general of the Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation (IDAC), Igor Rodríguez Durán, emphasized that this project completes the high-tech radar network that now provides total coverage across the entire Dominican Republic. This system follows the 2022 installation of a radar at Punta Cana International Airport and a second unit commissioned in May 2025 at Loma Isabel de Torres in Puerto Plata.
By prioritizing technical infrastructure, the government aims to position the country as a regional leader in flight safety.
The newly active radar features an effective operational range of 250 kilometers, with the ability to detect weather patterns up to 400 kilometers away. This expanded reach is expected to significantly reduce risks associated with unpredictable tropical weather.
For aviation professionals, the impact is immediate:
Enhanced decision-making: Pilots and air traffic controllers gain real-time data on adverse conditions.
Precision maneuvers: Improved accuracy during critical takeoff and landing phases.
Meteorological detail: Better tracking of rain distribution, intensity, wind speed, and wind direction.
Inter-agency collaboration In a move toward seamless national defense and emergency response, the server data from these radars is now shared directly with the Dominican Institute of Meteorology (Indomet) and the Dominican Air Force.
Gloria Ceballos, director of Indomet, and Juan Manuel Méndez, director of the Emergency Operations Center (COE), both lauded the system. They noted that the integrated radar network is vital for managing information during hurricane seasons and the frequent natural weather events that impact the island.
The modernization of the country’s “blue skies” is set to continue. Rodríguez Durán announced that in April, President Abinader is scheduled to inaugurate a modern control tower at the San Isidro Air Base. This upcoming project will include a new cabin, next-generation communication tools, a DVOR-DME (Distance Measuring Equipment), and an alternative energy system for the runway. These upgrades are part of a broader master plan to ensure the National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) and military forces have the best possible tools for aerial surveillance.
The government has many challenges ahead for the actual use of the radars in favor of the communities. A recent major downpour in the northern Espaillat province, impacting communities in Gaspar Hernandez municipality, for sure was evidenced on the Puerto Plata radar, but locals were not alerted and found themselves impacted by the unusual rains that caused major flooding. No lives were taken but damages to property were major.
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Presidency
Listin Diario
3 March 2026