The WSR-88D has been in the field now for over 12 years and it is time to look at what additional technology might be applied to improve this important forecast and warning tool. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Severe Storms Laboratory has combined efforts with the United States Navy's Office of Naval Research, Lockheed Martin Corporation, the University of Oklahoma's Electrical Engineering Department and School of Meteorology, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, the National Weather Service's Radar Operational Center and the Federal Aviation Administration's Technical Center to build a $25 million national phased array radar testbed in Norman, Oklahoma.

The National Weather Radar Testbed (NWRT) is currently being integrated by Lockheed Martin and is due for delivery in Norman, Oklahoma during late summer/early fall 2002. In this paper, we will describe our progress along with our plans to manage and encourage access to this National Facility.