The NCAR Earth Observing Laboratory (EOL) is embarking on a cutting edge facility development to take the potential synergy of simultaneous radar and lidar observations to the research community. The Community Airborne Platform Remote-Sensing Interdisciplinary Suite (CAPRIS) will provide the geosciences community the capability for measuring key components of clouds, precipitation, aerosols and chemistry to advance basic understanding of related processes in a warming planetary environment. Many airborne platforms and active remote sensors exist throughout the world, but thus far it has been rare for multiple radar and lidars to be operated simultaneously from a single aircraft or on the ground. Furthermore, it is widely recognized that a fusion of microwave and optical data can provide new insights into atmospheric processes. The suite will work in conjunction with existing in-situ sensors on NSF/NCAR C-130 and NSF/NCAR Gulfstream V (GV) aircraft by providing an unprecedented combination of coincident observations of precipitation, winds, cloud microphysics, water vapor, ozone, and aerosol at a wide range of temporal and spatial scales. The CAPRIS suite includes (i) a flat antenna-aircraft fairing mounted, dual-polarization, dual-Doppler precipitation radar; (ii) a pod-based dual-wavelength, dual-polarization, Doppler cloud radar; (iii) a water vapor differential absorption lidar (DIAL)/aerosol lidar; (iv) a UV ozone DIAL; (v) a UV molecular clear air Doppler wind lidar; (vi) a heterodyne boundary layer Doppler wind lidar; and (vii) pod-based vegetation canopy lidar. These instruments will be mounted on the NSF/NCAR C130 and GV (HIAPER) (except the precipitation radar). We also propose a design that can be deployed in a ground-based mode to maximize lifetime, utility and flexibility. We will provide background on the CAPRIS technical development and describe how the system can assist with scientific investigations. The engineering of the system and anticipated next steps in the development process will be discussed.