US Air Force signs $49M deal for WindBorne balloon weather data

WindBorne Systems has secured a potential $49 million US Air Force agreement to supply atmospheric measurements from its fleet of about 700 autonomous balloons. The military has ordered roughly $1.7 million in data so far, and the contract was awarded without competing bids.

• Deal ceiling is $49 million; about $1.7 million in data ordered so far
• WindBorne operates a fleet of roughly 700 autonomous weather balloons
• In August 2026 a balloon was guided into a typhoon's eye
• Balloon readings feed the company's WeatherMesh 6 forecasting system