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2021-10-01

Falco Xplorer: Generating Interest for Maritime Surveillance and ASW Roles

Leonardo’s Falco Xplorer occupies a unique niche in the UAS market, combining a payload capacity of 350kg, more than 24 hours flight time and a satellite communications capability for beyond-radio-line-of-sight operations, all within a relatively light 1.3 tonne maximum take-off weight (MTOW). Leonardo says that this attractive mix is generating substantial interest from GGC states and other potential international customers.

“Throughout the pandemic we have continued discussions with potential customers, mostly in a virtual setting, and the enthusiasm for the system throughout the Middle East region remains high”, says Fabrizio Boggiani, SVP Airborne Systems - Electronics Italy at Leonardo.

“There is a clear requirement in the region and beyond for persistent, multi-sensor strategic surveillance and our unique combination of high-capacity with relatively low size and weight makes Falco Xplorer a very attractive proposition. Two roles that are regularly cited as ideally suited to the Falco Xplorer are maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare (ASW), both of which benefit from the Xplorer’s ability to stay on-station for long periods while equipped with a formidable suite of surveillance capabilities.”

Notably, the Falco Xplorer has been designed as free from International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) restrictions and compliant with existing Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) regulations, putting it in the readily exportable class II category and boosting its sales prospects in the Middle East region.

“Leonardo will be able to supply the complete Falco Xplorer system, including its advanced sensor suite, ensuring full control of the supply chain”, said Boggiani, explaining that “this is because Leonardo is one of the few companies in the world that can deliver a complete end-to-end uncrewed capability: we’re able to design and manufacture not just the aircraft itself, but also sensors, ground control station and mission system.”

For customers looking for a high-spec surveillance capability, one benefit of Leonardo’s end-to-end approach is that Falco Xplorer operators can take advantage of Leonardo’s in-house electronics portfolio to offer a comprehensive Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capability over land and sea. Customers will have access to advanced Leonardo sensors including the SAGE electronic surveillance system and the Gabbiano Ultra-Light radar.

This radar, says Boggiani, “packages all of the proven technology and advanced modes of our internationally-successful Gabbiano family into a lightweight multi-mode, multi-mission package, making it ideally suited for uncrewed surveillance missions.”

Another key capability offered as an option for the Falco Xplorer sensor fit is Leonardo’s new ULISSES sonics system for anti-submarine warfare missions. The company has engineered ULISSES to deliver high performance in a compact and lightweight form factor. This makes the system ideal for a platform such as the Falco Xplorer, equipping it to deliver a wide-area underwater search capability. Notably, ULISSES employs latest-generation multistatic processing, providing precise location estimates for enemy submarines while maintaining a low rate of false alarms.

All of these advanced sensor systems can be managed by a lean ground crew at its dedicated ground control station using Leonardo’s powerful uncrewed mission system. The mission system is designed to reduce the workload of operators while providing a complete situational awareness picture, limiting the number of personnel required to fly the aircraft and manage its payloads.

The Falco Xplorer successfully completed its maiden flight in January 2020 and embarked on further flights that year. Development has proceeded at-pace even during pandemic conditions: during periods when employees were unable to move freely between sites and flight activities could not take place, teams of engineers spent the time analysing data collected during flights and working to refine and add additional functionality to the Falco Xplorer’s mission system and human-machine interface. Other lab-based activities have also been brought forward, taking place earlier than originally planned.

The next step for the Falco Xplorer will be for it to achieve military certification. In support of this goal Leonardo currently has the UAS deployed at the Italian Air Force base in Trapani, where it is undergoing test and evaluation work with the support of the Italian Air Force.

The Falco Xplorer benefits from Leonardo’s proven heritage and depth of experience in uncrewed systems. The company has extensive experience operating its Falco-family aircraft in a range of environments, including in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where Leonardo has delivered over 8,500 hours of uncrewed surveillance flights on behalf of the United Nations since 2013. Another recent highlight saw the Falco family supporting missions in the Mediterranean in 2018 as part of the European Frontex agency’s maritime surveillance project. Today, more than 50 Falco-family aircraft are in operation worldwide.

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