A FINMECCANICA COMPANY

Falco

Surveillance UAV System

The FALCO (Falcon) UAV System is targeted for the Medium Altitude Endurance & Tactical UAV markets for optronic and electronic surveillance roles. The basic mission is target detection, localization, identification and designation through its on-board sensors suite which typically comprise a thermal imager, a color TV Camera and a spotter or a laser designator.

The best features of the FALCO System include automatic take-off and landing (with STOL performance), fully redundant and fault-tolerant control systems, digital buses and control link equipment, automatic area surveillance modes and near-real-time target image processing. The Ground Control Station consoles are functionally interchangeable and allow highly interactive mission planning, mission re-tasking, mission play-back and operators mission training.

A FINMECCANICA COMPANY

Falco Surveillance UAV System

One of the main features of the FALCO air vehicle is the ability to carry a wide variety of payloads (E/O-IR, SAR, ESM, self-protection equipment, external droppable stores) and data link. This capability is achieved thanks to the capacity of the payload compartments and the presence of flexible payload/data link interface units. If necessary, payload equipment and additional fuel can also be traded off, in order to enhance the features deemed most effective for a specific mission.

Falcos excellent aerodynamic characteristics have been investigated through an extensive campaign of wind-tunnel tests. The air vehicle, besides its inherent STOL ability, which makes it eligible as an organic asset for maritime operations, can also be launched from a pneumatic catapult in a tactical environment. The recovery is accomplished through a conventional wheeled landing. The main landing gear is designed in order to allow for heavy landings, as expected on a ship deck. A recovery parachute, designed to deploy throughout the whole flight envelope, can be installed for emergency purposes.

Main characteristics

Air vehicle length Wing span Air vehicle height Gross T/O weight Payload weight Endurance max. airspeed max operating altitude

5.25 m 7.20 m 1.80 m 240 - 350 kg > 70 kg up to 14 hrs 60 m/s 6500 m

For more information, please contact: Galileo Avionica SpA

Zona Industriale di Soleschiano Via Mario Stoppani, 21 34077 Ronchi dei Legionari (Gorizia), Italy Fax (39-481) 478313 - Phone (39-481) 478111 meteor@meteor.it - www.galileoavionica.it

Galileo Avionica SpA - Una Societ Finmeccanica - Head Office: Via Albert Einstein, 35 - 50013 Campi Bisenzio (FI) - Italy

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