The Radio and Plasma Waves (RPW) experiment is unique amongst the Solar Orbiter instruments in that it makes both in situ and remote-sensing measurements. RPW will measure magnetic and electric fields at high time resolution using a number of sensors/antennas, to determine the characteristics of electromagnetic and electrostatic waves in the solar wind.

RPW was developed under the lead of LESIA, Observatoire de Paris, France. IWF was responsible for the antenna calibration and built the on-board computer for RPW.