Based on the working principles and performances under each working models of phased array radar, combined with the basic demands of weather radar, taking account of continual technology development, fast cost reduction, and increasing financial investment in phased array radar in China, the application potentials of active digital phased array Doppler weather radar are expected. The current development status of active digital phased array Doppler radar and challenges facing weather radar are introduced, such as the reduction of the total costs of the radar〖KG-*3〗’〖KG-*2〗s digital T/R components, the transplantation and improvement of each kinds of digital beam forming models and selfadaptation technologies, the development of the digital signal process (software and hardware) technologies and weather products, power consume, the technical support of equipment during the total life cycle of radar, and so on. The preliminary ideas to solve some problems are put forward.