At Le Bourget 2011, Selex Galileo, a Finmeccanica company, will be putting its Falco EVO Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) on display for the first time. Without changing the airframe of the current Falco high end Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (TUAV), Falco EVO features extended wings to ensure longer endurance and an increased payload capacity. This expands the spectrum of tactical missions the UAS can carry out, offering greater flexibility to customers.
The product on display features the actual Falco airframe, with extended wings and ‘visible’ payloads (specially glass-encased for viewing) such as the PicoSAR AESA radar, EOST 46 multi-sensor turret and the new, compact ESM/ELINT SAGE, all part of the Selex Galileo product portfolio. The current EVO configuration allows for additional payloads without requiring modification of the airframe or engine.
Falco EVO, which will be available as an upgrade package for the current baseline Falco, features a 12.5m wing span and a MTOW of 650 kg. The benefits of this enhancement are equally shared between the payload capability, now increased to 100kg, and the maximum endurance, which is in excess of 18 hours. Offline target data evaluation and processing have been further enhanced in order to allow data diffusion through the C4I net in STANAG 4609 format. Real Time data can also be received by small front line units via portable or fixed Remote Video Terminals (RVT).
Falco EVO shares commonality with the Falco mission system and its fully redundant, fault-tolerant architecture originally designed to meet EASA Airworthiness guidelines for both civil and military oriented products. The Falco EVO also includes a Ground Control Station and benefits from Selex Galileo’s proven expertise in sensor integration. The UAS is expected to perform its maiden flight during the first quarter of 2012.
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