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Leonardo Falco

2009 MODERN AIRCRAFT DRONE TECHNOLOGY

The story of Leonardo Falco

SELEX Galileo Falco (meaning "Falcon") is another member of the growing list of modern unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for military use. The first flight of the Falco took place in December 2003, and after additional testing and approvals, the Flaco was officially launched in 2009. About 50 aircraft have been produced to date, and the first (and only known) customer is Pakistan. Since the introduction of drones, the Pakistani military has procured about two dozen Falcos and used them for activities centered in the Swat Valley.

Described as a "middle class" drone, the Flaco in its original basic form was dedicated to reconnaissance and surveillance - so not as armed as the American Predator or Reaper series. The main advantages of the series are endurance and high-altitude performance, providing ground commanders with a relatively inexpensive and less risky "eye to the sky" than using larger helicopters or aircraft for the same role.

Falco was initially managed by Galileo Avionica and later merged with SELEX S&AS to become "SELEX Galileo". Prior to Falco, SELEX supplied high-end electronics and imaging systems to various defense parties.

SELEX itself is a subsidiary of the parent company Finmeccanica founded in Rome in 1948.

Externally, the Falco mimics the clean, streamlined profile of a high-end commercial sport aircraft. The fuselage is beautifully contoured and aerodynamically refined, with the high-mounted monoplane wing design straight and slightly swept down near the wingspan. Thin twin tail beams emerge from the wings, mounting vertical tail fins that are further connected by a horizontal plane at their base. The engine is mounted aft of the fuselage and drives a three-bladed propeller assembly in a "thrust" configuration. The landing gear is fixed and consists of three landing gear legs, each with an individual enclosed wheel.

The payload is managed along the bottom and can be adjusted according to the operator's needs (ABC sensor equipment, electronic countermeasures, thermal imaging, TV, radar, laser designator). Avionics are installed in the nose assembly. Powered by an 80-horsepower engine, the plane has a top speed of about 135 mph, a service ceiling of 16,500 feet, and an operating range of 14 hours. By no means a small machine, the Falco has a barrel length of 17 feet and a wingspan of 24 feet. At rest, the Falco reaches a height of 6 feet and requires several hands to locate it.

The UAV can take off from a completed runway under its own power, but has since been tested with a pneumatic catapult launcher to improve field capabilities. It is assumed that drones can also be recovered through some kind of deployed network system.

Like other drones, the Falco is just one component of a complete drone kit offered by its host company. The kit includes the drone aircraft itself (or multiple, if desired), the Ground Control Station (GCS) and all applicable support equipment, including the pilot station and mission screen. Information is transmitted to ground control systems in real-time in color, enabling commanders to make quick in-flight decisions. Drones like the Falco also have the advantage of relatively quiet performance and small size, which are often overlooked where enemy personnel are concentrated as evidenced by U.S. drones in Iraq and Afghanistan. Subsequent development work resulted in the "Falco EVO", said to be able to place guided munitions (2 missiles under the wings), greatly expanding the mission range of this new Italian drone.

The Falco EVO will be larger in size and perhaps more powerful to balance the revised character on the battlefield.