Meteodrone Strato

Meteodrone Strato is a high-altitude multicopter weather drone developed by Meteomatics of Switzerland, unveiled in October 2026 as a reusable alternative to single-use radiosonde weather balloons. It climbs through the troposphere toward the edge of the stratosphere, recording atmospheric data along the way before returning to its launch site.

Overview

Meteomatics presented the Strato at the Meteorological Technology World Expo in Amsterdam in October 2026, alongside the World Meteorological Organization's TECO-2026 conference. It is the upper-air member of the company's Meteodrone line, which also includes the lower-altitude Meteomatics Meteodrone and the ship-launched Meteodrone Tropo (previously marketed as the MM-670). Where a weather balloon drifts with the wind on a fixed launch schedule and is not recovered, Meteomatics designed the Strato to fly to a chosen location, take a vertical profile of the atmosphere, and fly itself back for reuse, which the company positions as a way to fill observation gaps between scheduled balloon launches.

Meteomatics rates the Strato for operation up to 39,000 ft (11,887 m, roughly 11.9 km), within reach of the lower stratosphere.

Design and capabilities

The Strato is a multirotor aircraft that Meteomatics says can be set up and launched by an on-site pilot in about five minutes. It is built to withstand sustained winds up to 80 mph (130 km/h) and to orient itself into headwinds, and it operates across a temperature range of −70 °C to 60 °C. An automatic de-icing system heats the propellers when icing is detected, the airframe is water-resistant, and a parachute provides a controlled emergency descent. Meteomatics has not published the aircraft's weight, dimensions, payload capacity or flight endurance.

During ascent, the Strato records temperature, humidity, air pressure and wind speed, with Meteomatics stating its Meteodrone sensors sample at 4 to 20 Hz. The aircraft streams real-time telemetry — including altitude, wind, temperature and icing alerts — to its ground operator.

Use cases

Meteomatics positions the Strato as a data source for its own high-resolution forecasting models, including its US1k and Euro1k products, and says the readings can sharpen forecasts within roughly 50 km of the launch point. The company's broader Meteodrone data has already been used by partners including MeteoSwiss, NOAA, the US Navy and Grand Forks Air Force Base, though those deployments predate the Strato specifically and have used the company's lower-altitude Meteodrone models.

Frequently asked questions

How high can the Meteodrone Strato fly?

Meteomatics rates it for operation up to 39,000 ft, or about 11.9 km (11,887 m), within the lower stratosphere.

What does the Meteodrone Strato measure?

It records temperature, humidity, air pressure and wind speed as it climbs, streaming the data back to the ground operator in real time.

How is the Meteodrone Strato different from a weather balloon?

Unlike a balloon, which drifts with the wind on a fixed schedule and is not recovered, the Strato flies to a chosen location, takes its readings, and returns to its launch site for reuse.

Who makes the Meteodrone Strato?

It is built by Meteomatics, a Swiss weather technology company founded in 2012 and based in St. Gallen.

What weather conditions can the Meteodrone Strato operate in?

Meteomatics rates it for sustained winds up to 80 mph (130 km/h) and temperatures from −70 °C to 60 °C, with automatic propeller de-icing.