In 2026, EUMETSAT celebrates 40 years of designing, developing and delivering critical Earth observation data to support weather forecasting, climate monitoring, and environmental services. This milestone coincides with groundbreaking advancements from the recently launched Meteosat Third Generation Sounder (MTG-S1), the first and second satellite of the EUMETSAT Polar System – Second Generation (EPS-SG), as well as the operational transition of MTG-I1.

MTG-S1’s geostationary infrared sounding — a European first — enables sub-hourly observations of the atmospheric state. EPS-SG's suite of instruments will dramatically enhance the three-dimensional view of the atmosphere and the characterization of its composition, alongside other critical parameters. These capabilities will complement what has already been achieved through MTG-I1’s Flexible Combined Imager (FCI) and the Lightning Imager.

Looking ahead, this presentation will also highlight EUMETSAT’s foresight initiatives for 2050 and its strengthened international collaboration to meet evolving user needs under the WMO Integrated Global Observing system.

How to cite: Ruti, P.: 40 Years of Operational Excellence: EUMETSAT’s Latest Missions (MTG, EPS-SG) and beyond., EMS Annual Meeting 2026, Utrecht, Netherlands, 6–11 Sep 2026, EMS2026-12, https://doi.org/10.5194/ems2026-12, 2026.