InterMet

What InterMet does

InterMet Systems is a privately held supplier of radiosondes, atmospheric sensors, and uncrewed aerial weather sensing systems headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Founded in the late 1990s, the company has operated for over 25 years building radiosondes and meteorological sounding systems, with products deployed in more than 50 countries. Its core offerings span five product lines: single-use radiosondes (iMet-4, iMet-4 RSB, iMet-4C) that measure pressure, temperature, humidity, and wind to 100,000 ft; the CopterSonde WxUAS family (CopterSonde 3 and 3.1) developed under exclusive license from the University of Oklahoma for boundary layer vertical profiling; UAV sensors (iMet-XQ2 for rotary-wing, iMet-XF for fixed-wing, iMet-X4 next-generation); ground-based 403 MHz and 1680 MHz sounding systems in portable, synoptic, and military configurations; and balloon accessories including meteorological balloons, parachutes, de-reelers, inflation kits, and an Iridium satellite modem. The iMet-4 features a capacitive humidity sensor with anti-icing heater, hydrophobic-coated air temperature sensor, calibrated pressure sensor, and U-blox CAM-M8 GPS receiver, while the CopterSonde-3D incorporates a patented front scoop design and WindVane flight mode developed at OU.

The company serves four primary customer segments: national weather services conducting twice-daily synoptic soundings, research institutions and universities studying atmospheric and severe weather phenomena, military organizations requiring STANAG-compliant field-deployable systems, and space services plus NOAA-led government research agencies. End users include the University of Oklahoma/CIWRO, NOAA NSSL (using iMet-XF with the Raytheon Coyote drone for hurricane research), Belgium Defense, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (NASA IMPACTS snowstorm campaign), and the Perlan Project high-altitude glider program. The business model is direct hardware sales on a quote basis, with U.S. Government customers able to procure radiosondes and balloons through GSA Schedule GS-07F-0235Y on multi-year contracts. Marketing is concentrated in conference exhibitions at AMS, AGU, ISARRA, and Meteorological Technology World Expo. The firm is led by President Fred Clowney and VP of Sales and Marketing Alana Dachtler; no external funding rounds, parent entities, or institutional investors are disclosed, consistent with a bootstrapped operating history.

Differentiating technology rests on patented IP licensed from the University of Oklahoma, NOAA NSSL research collaboration via a February 2025 CRADA, deep software integration with NOAA SkySonde, iMetOS-II, and En-Sci DAS-2 via the XData format, and international regulatory clearances including MIL-STD for military systems, STANAG ballistics messaging for artillery fire control, and Japan Radio Law certification via Bureau Veritas. The company maintains no disclosed AI/ML capabilities and operates with a small, geographically concentrated employee base in a single U.S. facility.

Name

InterMet

Legal name

InterMet Systems

Website

https://intermetsystems.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

InterMet Systems is a Grand Rapids, MI-based privately held supplier of radiosondes, UAV-deployed atmospheric sensors, and ground sounding systems serving national weather services, research universities, military organizations, and space services customers across more than 50 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Atmospheric and Meteorological Instrumentation

NAICS

Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Automatic Environmental Control Manufacturing for Residential, Commercial, and Appliance Use (334512), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Sensors (Temperature/Humidity/Gas/Air Quality) (HDAHALAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Humidity & dew point monitoring sensors (TLAEALAB), Military Aerospace Fuel, Hydraulic & Environmental Control Systems (IMABAMAJ)

Keywords

• Atmospheric sounding instruments
• Radiosonde manufacturing
• UAV weather sensors
• Meteorological equipment
• Boundary layer profiling

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales - Radiosondes: Sale of atmospheric sensors (radiosondes) for single-use weather balloon deployments. Includes iMet-4, iMet-4 RSB, iMet-4B models.
2. Hardware Sales - UAV Sensors: Sale of UAV-deployed atmospheric sensors including iMet-XQ2, iMet-XF, and iMet-X4 for rotary and fixed-wing aircraft.
3. Hardware Sales - Sounding Systems: Sale of ground receiving systems including iMet-3050A (portable), iMet-3200A (synoptic), and military versions (iMet-3100M, iMet-3600M, iMet-1500M).
4. CopterSonde Systems: Sale of CopterSonde WxUAS boundary layer vertical profiler systems in partnership with University of Oklahoma.
5. Accessories and Consumables: Sale of meteorological balloons (100-600gm), parachutes, inflation kits, de-reelers, and balloon accessories.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

InterMet Systems designs, manufactures, and sells radiosondes, UAV-deployed atmospheric sensors, ground-based GPS/RDF sounding systems, and supporting meteorological accessories for weather forecasting, climate research, and military applications. Its products measure atmospheric pressure, temperature, humidity, and wind from ground to 100,000 ft altitude. The flagship CopterSonde WxUAS line, co-developed with the University of Oklahoma, is the first purpose-built Weather Uncrewed Aircraft System for boundary layer vertical profiling.

Product overview

InterMet Systems is a supplier of radiosondes and atmospheric sensors organized into five product lines: (1) Radiosondes including iMet-4, iMet-4 RSB, and iMet-4C variants for synoptic, research, and military applications; (2) CopterSonde WxUAS (Weather Uncrewed Aircraft System) family including CopterSonde 3 and 3.1 for boundary layer vertical profiling via drones; (3) UAV Sensors including iMet-XQ2 for rotary-wing, iMet-XF for fixed-wing, and iMet-X4 for next-generation atmospheric and pollutant measurements; (4) Ground-based GPS Sounding Systems in 403 MHz and 1680 MHz frequencies for portable, synoptic, and military deployments; and (5) Balloon Accessories including inflation kits, de-reelers, meteorological balloons, parachutes, and the Iridium satellite modem. The iMet-4 radiosondes carry weather balloons to 100,000 ft measuring pressure, temperature, humidity, and winds, while UAV sensors mount on drones for atmospheric boundary layer studies. CopterSonde products represent a turn-key integration of UAS efficiency with proven weather sensing methods. Products are available to qualified U.S. Government purchasers through GSA contract GS-07F-0235Y.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CopterSonde: WxUAS (Weather Uncrewed Aircraft System) Boundary Layer Vertical Profiler developed in partnership with University of Oklahoma. Includes CopterSonde 3 and CopterSonde 3.1 models.
• iMet

Products and services

• iMet-4 Radiosonde Synoptic and research radiosonde measuring atmospheric pressure, temperature, humidity, and wind from ground to 100,000 ft. Designed for national weather services and research institutions, deployed via weather balloon.
• iMet-4 RSB Research Radiosonde

Quantifiable outcome

• Products deployed in over 50 countries for climate monitoring and weather forecasting

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 February 2025Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between NSSL and InterMet Systems. Leverages NSSL resources and expertise with severe weather research to advance weather observation via uncrewed aircraft systems (WxUAS).
• University of OklahomacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership with University of Oklahoma to build and sell the CopterSonde 3. Combines OU's world-class expertise in atmospheric research and engineering with InterMet's 25 years of experience building operational radiosondes. InterMet holds exclusive license for CopterSonde-3D patent.
• AnemomentsupportingTechnology or Integration · 17 January 2020Partnership to integrate Trisonica mini datalogger with InterMet's iMet-XQ2 and iMet-XF sensors to enable wind measurements (x and y) along with boundary layer data (pressure, temperature, humidity) in one data file.
• Bureau VeritassupportingTechnology or IntegrationInternational standards group that certified iMet-4 Radiosonde as compliant with Radio Law Article 38 Section 24 for use in Japan.
• Cooperative Institute for Severe and High-Impact Weather (CIWRO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOU-based research institute partnering with InterMet on CopterSonde development. Led by Tony Segales, Ph.D. since 2017. CIWRO received $1.4 million NOAA grant for wildfire research using WxUAS including CopterSonde.
• NOAA Atmospheric Turbulence and Diffusion Division (ATDD)supportingTechnology or IntegrationATDD was one of the primary beta testers for iMet-XQ sensor. Their feedback was essential in improving the product before its 2016 production release.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Vaisala: Vaisala is the global market leader in radiosondes (RS41, RS92), weather observation instruments, and ground receiving systems. It is InterMet's most direct competitor, serving the same national weather service and research customers with overlapping product categories and is widely considered the benchmark InterMet competes against.
• Meteomodem: Meteomodem is a French manufacturer of radiosondes (M20, M10) and ground systems used by national meteorological services and research institutions. It directly competes with InterMet's iMet-4 in the synoptic and research radiosonde category.
• GRAW Radiosondes: GRAW (Graupner Radiosondes) is a German manufacturer of meteorological radiosondes (DFM-17, DFM-09) and ground receiving systems. It is a direct competitor to InterMet in the synoptic radiosonde market with comparable product positioning and customer base.
• Meisei Electric: Meisei Electric is a Japanese manufacturer of radiosondes (iMS-100, RS-11G) and meteorological instruments. It directly competes with InterMet in the synoptic radiosonde category, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region where InterMet is pursuing Japan Radio Law certification.
• All Weather Inc: All Weather Inc manufactures radiosonde ground systems, sounding receivers, and meteorological observation equipment. It is a direct competitor to InterMet's iMet-3050A/3200A ground receiving systems serving the same national weather service and military customers.
• Scintec: Scintec manufactures atmospheric sounding systems including radar wind profilers, RASS, and SODAR systems used in boundary layer and tropospheric research. It is a direct peer serving overlapping atmospheric research customers with complementary measurement technologies.
• Yankee Environmental Systems (YES): YES manufactures atmospheric sounding systems, radiosondes, and turbulence probes for research and military applications. It is a direct peer serving overlapping atmospheric observation customers with comparable instrumentation.

Broad incumbents

• Campbell Scientific: Campbell Scientific designs and manufactures a wide range of environmental measurement instruments and data loggers used in atmospheric, soil, and water monitoring. While not focused on radiosondes, its atmospheric sensor products and weather station systems overlap with portions of InterMet's measurement customer base.
• Lockheed Martin Sippican: Lockheed Martin Sippican historically manufactured the widely deployed Mark IV / MicroSonde radiosondes for the U.S. National Weather Service. As a major defense prime with broader atmospheric and aerospace offerings, it is a broad incumbent that historically competed head-to-head with InterMet's iMet product line.

Emerging players

• Anasphere: Anasphere develops small, lightweight atmospheric sensors and radiosonde-compatible data systems for weather balloons and UAVs. It overlaps with InterMet's UAV sensor line (iMet-XQ2, iMet-XF) as a smaller, niche competitor focused on research and emerging applications.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/intermetsystems
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/intermetsystems

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about InterMet