Alex sistemi SpA and Selex Galileo consolidated a partnership for the development and delivery of a Ground Control Station and Falco UAV MIL ISO-STD 20 ft. air-transportable shelter system.

After the successful design, manufacture and testing of the UAV Falco GCS: MIL ISO-STD 20 ft. air-transportable shelter system for Selex Galileo, Finmeccanica Company, which operate in the field of defence, Alex sistemi SpA has ventured into a realm of new and exciting technological challenges.

In June 2010, a meeting between the manager of Space & Defence Business Unit of Alex sistemi SpA Company and representatives of Engineering Unit of Selex Galileo took place in Ronchi dei Legionari at the ex-Meteor’s factory. As the result of the meeting, the programme for the Development, Production and Testing of UAV Falco GCS: MIL ISO-STD 20 ft. AGE (Auxiliary Ground Equipment), GDT (Ground Data Terminal), and VLV (Falco UAV Transportation) was launched.

Falco is a tactical UAV System, designed and manufactured to supply Command and Control net-centers with a tactical overview of the operational scenario and target cueing in real time. Designed as a system driven by the ground plane the Falco unmanned aircraft is a new concept, suited to meet the new requirements of civil and military patrolling the area.

Falco is the result of the most advanced technology in the field. The air vehicle length is 5.25 meters and its wing span is 7.20 meters. UAV Falco has a propeller propulsion system and has a top speed of 40 m / sec. The fact that its max payload is 70 kg means that can include a multispectral electro-optical sensor or a surveillance radar.

Selex Galileo is ready to market Falco. When equipped with the appropriate sensors, it can become an optimal system to meet the various needs of area surveillance, in relation to fires and pollution, border control and illegal immigration, verification of environmental disasters for coastal surveillance and research to aid the identification and classification of targets. In short it is versatile and flexible with extremely competitive operating costs.

The military version of FALCO is now being considered for use in the remote-controlled system Mirach 26, which is currently used by the Italian military. It is also advertised in the international market for the Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (TUAV surveillance) system and MAE (Medium Altitude Endurance).

The shelter and related equipment and fittings in the Ground Control Station (GCS) as well as the ISO-STD 20 ft. shelter, AGE, VLV and GDT for UAV Falco have been designed, manufactured and tested in the Alex sistemi SpA factories in Ossona (MI). The GCS is located in a 20 ft ISO-STD shelter, which can be transported by C-130 aircraft. The shelter is equipped with a self-loading system. The GCS is fitted with a rack and cabinets as well as air conditioning and ventilation systems, a switchboard, lighting system and multi-functional control panel for pilots and a chief of staff.

The final product is highly integrated and is the result of advanced technology that allows Alex sistemi SpA to give further evidence of the constant increase in its operational capacity. In addition, the programme provided a new opportunity to confirm the high level of expertise and know-how of the company that enable it to satisfy the strict requirements of the defence sector.