Hail Suppression Research Center "antigrad"

What Hail Suppression Research Center "antigrad" does

Hail Suppression Research Center "Antigrad" (HSRC Antigrad) is a private, founder-led scientific-industrial company founded in 1992 and headquartered in Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkaria, in Russia's North Caucasian District. The company designs, manufactures, and deploys weather modification and radar meteorology systems for government meteorological agencies, large agricultural enterprises, and transportation infrastructure operators. Its product portfolio spans antihail rocket launchers (ELIA-3 automated and ELIA-R manual) with the ASU-Elia remote-guidance network, weather radar hardware and software (ASU-MRL data processing, digital receiver BCP-1, magnetron transmitter, control units BUP-M and BUK-M, angle sensors BDA/BDU), atmospheric intervention technologies (TMO-1 thermal fog dispersion machine, antifrost smoke generators), and meteorological data collection (weather UAV copters, weather apps). Antigrad also develops research-stage technologies including the HELIATOR multi-tier balloon system and aerosol-jet thermal machines under the UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science (UAEREP).

The company sells specialized hardware and integrated systems on a project basis to government and enterprise customers across 10+ nations, with a track record of 100+ systems delivered and 1,000+ operators trained. Revenue streams include hardware sales (antihail launchers, radar upgrades, fog/frost machines, drones), associated installation, training, and lifecycle support services, and research funding — notably a US$5 million grant from the UAE National Center of Meteorology under the third cycle of UAEREP (2018). Pricing is quote-based and project-specific rather than publicly disclosed. Distribution is direct enterprise field sales with no apparent channel intermediaries, supported by an academic and industrial partnership network spanning Russian universities (North Caucasian Federal University, P.N. Lebedev Institute), the UAE's NCM and Khalifa University, CFD specialists (TESIS), aviation engine conversion partners (NPP AViS MOTORS), and global component suppliers (Anemoment, Autonics, Lapp Group, RACOM, and several Chinese manufacturers).

The company has accumulated multiple Russian patents and a PCT application on methods for creating artificial clouds and precipitation (2019-2023), co-owned with the UAE NCM, and has received the UAE Prize for Excellence in Weather Modification (2005) awarded by an international evaluation committee in collaboration with the World Meteorological Organization. Scientific leadership is anchored by Prof. Dr. Magomet T. Abshaev (Director, 50+ years of experience, 540+ scientific articles and patents) and Dr. Ali M. Abshaev, supported by a team of roughly 20 named specialists spanning mechanical design, electronics, software, and radar systems. Operating status is active, with ongoing UAEREP field campaigns in 2021-2022 and continued product development through 2023.

Name

Hail Suppression Research Center "antigrad"

Legal name

Hail Suppression Research Center "ANTIGRAD"

Website

https://hsrc-antigrad.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Hail Suppression Research Center "antigrad" is a Russian scientific-industrial company that designs and manufactures antihail rocket launchers, weather radar systems, fog and frost dispersion technologies, and meteorological drones for government meteorological agencies and agricultural enterprises across 10+ nations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Nalchik

HQ country

Russia

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Weather Modification Systems and Equipment: Sale of antihail rocket launchers (ELIA-3, ELIA-R), antifog machines, antifrost systems, and weather drones. Products are specialized hardware requiring installation, training, and ongoing maintenance services.
2. Weather Radar Technologies and Upgrades: Sale and upgrade of weather radar systems including digital receivers, transmitters, control units, angle sensors, and software packages for radar modernization
3. Research and Development Services (UAEREP): Research program funding for development of artificial convective cloud creation technology under the UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

HSRC Antigrad designs, manufactures, and delivers specialized weather modification hardware and software, including automated and manual antihail rocket launchers (ELIA-3, ELIA-R) with ASU-Elia remote guidance, weather radar components and the ASU-MRL data processing system, TMO-1 thermal fog dispersion machines, antifrost smoke generators, and weather UAVs. The company also conducts contracted research such as the UAEREP project on artificial cloud and precipitation creation, serving government meteorological agencies and agricultural enterprises across more than 10 nations.

Product overview

HSRC "Antigrad" is a scientific-industrial company offering a comprehensive portfolio of weather modification and radar meteorology products. The core offerings include antihail systems (automated and manual ELIA rocket launchers with ASU-Elia remote guidance network), weather radar technologies (digital receivers, transmitters, control units, angle sensors, and the ASU-MRL software suite for radar data processing), and atmospheric intervention technologies (TMO-1 thermal fog dispersion machines and antifrost smoke generator systems). The company also develops advanced research equipment including HELIATOR devices and aerosol-jet thermal machines for artificial cloud creation projects. Weather drones provide boundary layer atmospheric data collection. These products form an integrated ecosystem for weather monitoring, prediction, and modification, with hardware components designed for deep upgrade of existing radar infrastructure and software enabling comprehensive data analysis and launcher coordination.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ELIA-3 Automated Antihail Launcher
• ELIA-R Manual Antihail Launcher
• ASU-Elia Remote Guidance System
• Antihail Rocket AS
• ASU-MRL Radar Data Processing System
• BCP-1 Digital Receiver
• Magnetron Transmitter
• BUP-M Radar Antenna Driver
• BUK-M Radar Control Unit
• BDA and BDU Angle Sensors
• Weather Radar Hardware Upgrade
• Weather Radar Software Packages
• TMO-1 Thermal Fog Dispersion Machine
• Antifrost Smoke Generator System
• Weather UAV Copter
• HELIATOR Device
• Aerosol-Jet Thermal Machine
• UAEREP Artificial Cloud and Precipitation Creation Project

Quantifiable outcome

• 100+ weather modification systems supplied across 10+ nations over 25 years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• P.N. Lebedev Institute of Physics of the Russian Academy of SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on cosmic ray research and physics research supporting weather modification science. Dr. Viktor Pavlyuchenko serves as Head of Cosmic Rays Laboratory.
• TESIS Company (Moscow, Russia)coreTechnology or IntegrationEngineering company specializing in computing hydrodynamics. Collaborates on CFD simulation work including FlowVision software for modeling atmospheric convection and thermal jet systems.
• National Center for Meteorology (UAE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary research partner for the UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science. Collaborates on artificial cloud and precipitation creation projects. Co-holder of multiple patents.
• Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research (UAE)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic collaborator for UAEREP project. Assoc. Prof. Reyad El-Khazali involved in joint research on thermal convection and cloud formation.
• NPP AViS MOTORS Company (Russia)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecializes in repair and conversion of aircraft engines for non-aviation applications. Developed 8 mobile and stationary gas-jet installations. Key partner for thermal machine development.
• Joint Stock Company Cheboksary Production Association (Russia)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial partner providing manufacturing capabilities for specialized equipment. Dr. Mihail Reznikov serves as Director, with awards including Prize of Russian Government in science and technology.
• North Caucasian Federal University (Russia)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic collaboration with Prof. Dr. Robert Zakinyan contributing to theoretical modeling of cloud processes and weather modification research.
• University of the Highlands and Islands (Scotland, UK)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Edward Graham, Lecturer and Climate Consultant, contributes to UAEREP project research on climatology, water vapor, and precipitation.
• Scientific-Industrial Center Antigrad-Avia (Russia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRelated organization within the Antigrad network specializing in aviation-related aspects of weather modification.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Leonardo S.p.A. Leonardo is a broad aerospace and defense incumbent with radar and sensing capabilities. It overlaps with Antigrad in specialized sensing and government contracting, but its portfolio is much wider and not centered on weather modification.
• Vaisala: Vaisala is a global provider of weather, environmental, and industrial measurement systems, including weather radar and meteorological instruments. It overlaps with Antigrad's radar hardware and government meteorological customers, but operates at much greater scale and across a broader portfolio.

Direct peers

• Weather Modification, Inc. Weather Modification, Inc. provides cloud-seeding and weather-modification operations, including precipitation enhancement and related atmospheric services. It is a direct peer in weather-intervention use cases, although its service-led model differs from Antigrad's hardware-led model.
• North American Weather Consultants: North American Weather Consultants provides weather modification, cloud-seeding, and atmospheric research services. It is comparable through the same core weather-intervention and meteorological deployment model, with greater emphasis on services.
• EWR Weather Radar Systems: EWR Weather Radar Systems specializes in radar and turnkey weather-radar solutions. It addresses the same atmospheric detection and monitoring use cases as Antigrad's weather radar portfolio.
• Enterprise Electronics Corporation: Enterprise Electronics Corporation supplies weather radar systems and related hardware to meteorological and other government customers. It is a direct equipment peer for Antigrad's radar, transmitter, receiver, and radar-upgrade business.
• METEK: METEK manufactures meteorological sensors, radar, and atmospheric measurement equipment. It is a direct instrumentation peer for Antigrad's radar, sensing, and atmospheric-data products.

Emerging players

• Climavision: Climavision operates a next-generation weather-radar network and forecasting platform. It competes for meteorological monitoring and prediction budgets, although it does not offer antihail or cloud-seeding hardware.

Others

• Earth Networks: Earth Networks provides weather observation networks, lightning detection, and forecasting data. It shares Antigrad's meteorological monitoring customer base, but is more data- and network-oriented than intervention-focused.
• Campbell Scientific: Campbell Scientific supplies rugged weather stations, sensors, and data-acquisition systems. It is an adjacent hardware peer to Antigrad's weather-drone and radar-monitoring activities, serving similar meteorological users with a different intervention model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hsrc-antigrad

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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