Selex Galileo Falco UAS reaches full operational maturity
Selex Galileo’s Falco high-end Tactical Unmanned Aerial System (TUAS) has recently
completed a six month campaign of extensive flight tests executed under extreme weather conditions: from the ice of Northern Europe to the 50° Celsius of the desert. The system has always demonstrated aeronautical stability throughout the flights and has always delivered clear and accurate imaging during all its surveillance missions.
Flights were performed both by day and at night, with Falco encountering rain and ice conditions while in flight. The presence of strong crosswinds at take-off and landing has challenged ATOL (Automated Take Off and Landing) functionality to its limits but Falco has always succeeded. Several catapult launches with a full payload configuration were successfully performed.
All flights were performed with at least one payload installed: E/O-IR Electro-Optical and Infrared and the latest generation Active Electronically Scanned Array Radar PicoSAR.
The endurance has comfortably exceeded 12 hours with a dual payload configuration and missions have been performed at long range, exceeding 230 km with direct link and no handover, at an altitude above 18000 ft. Successful hand-over operations between remote ground control stations (GCS), not interconnected, have been executed allowing the range of the different missions to be extended considerably.
Falco is definitely a robust and ready-for-operation asset and is very close to delivering performances which are usually expected from a higher class of UAS. Selex Galileo intends to integrate ELINT and COMINT capabilities in the current system offering a SIGINT solution more affordable than a MALE UAS solution.
Selex Galileo is currently developing an upgrade kit which will allow the Falco to further increase the payload capacity up to 120 Kg and to extend the endurance to 18 hours, with a MTOW of 750 Kg.
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
Ready for the race: Air separation drone swarms vs. air defence systems
As the dynamics of aerial combat rapidly evolve, Chinese scientists have engineered a sophisticated air separation drone model that can fragment into up to six drones, each capable of executing distinct battlefield roles and challenging the efficacy of current anti-drone defences such as the UK’s Dragonfire laser system.
-
Israel’s MALE UAVs ‘must adapt’ to Iranian-made air defences
Advancements in air defence technologies have begun to reshape aerial combat dynamics in the Middle East, as illustrated by recent events involving the Israeli Air Force and Hezbollah.
-
Hundreds more UAS sent to Ukraine forces with thousands more on the way
Both sides of the Russia-Ukraine war have been using UAS for effective low-cost attacks, as well as impactful web and social media footage. Thousands more have now been committed to Ukrainian forces.
-
AI and software companies selected for US Army Robotic Combat Vehicle subsystems
The US Army has intentions to develop light, medium and heavy variants of the Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) as part of the branche’s Next Generation Combat Vehicle family.
-
DroneShield to improve software of DroneSentry-X C-UAS system under new contract
DroneSentry-X, a cross-vehicle compatible, automated 360° C-UAS detect and defeat device, can offer 360° awareness and protection using integrated sensors. According to its manufacturer, it is suitable for mobile operations, on-site surveillance and on-the-move missions.
-
Ukraine takes delivery of new indigenous C-UAS systems
Funded by the country’s former president, the new C-UAS systems will be sent to the frontline where they have already been tested against Russian invading forces.