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The Falco (English: hawk) is a tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designed and produced by Selex ES (originally by Galileo Avionica) of Italy. The UAV is designed to be a medium-altitude, medium-endurance surveillance platform 〔 capable of carrying a range of payloads, including several types of high resolution sensors. A larger variant, the Falco EVO,〔http://www.selex-es.com/-/falco-evo〕 is capable of carrying larger payloads is also available. Neither system is designed to carry weapons, The launch customer, Pakistan, reportedly wanted the Falco armed, a request that Italy rejected.〔http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?channel=aerospacedaily&id=news/asd/2011/03/01/01.xml&headline=Pakistan%20Air%20Chief%20Outlines%20Procurement%20Plans 〕 ==Development== * The Falco UAV's maiden flight took place in December 2003 and Galileo Avionica had completed platform qualification in late October 2004. Over 40 hours of flight-testing had been completed by then at the Salto di Quirra test range in Sardinia. Validation of flight controls had been completed in September 2004. Testing of the onboard systems was planned to be started in early 2005 and integration of the electro-optical sensor suite planned for July 2005. Radar installation was scheduled to begin in 2006.〔 * In January 2007 it was reported that Galileo Avionica had finished factory acceptance tests and was ready to deliver the first production Falco UAV System to its launch customer, then believed to be Pakistan. The production version of the Falco UAV used a modified powerplant developing 80 hp (60 kW), supplied by UAV Engines.〔http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/01/29/211769/first-galileo-avionica-falco-uav-set-for-delivery-launch-customer-remains.html〕 * In March 2009 in was reported that a modified version named Falco Evo, evo meaning evolution, was being offered. It features larger tail booms and wings which almost double wingspan to 12.5 m and increase payload from 70 kg to 100 kg. The Falco Evo's first flight was expected to take place by mid-2010.〔 * At the time Selex ES officials refused to identify the customer, but it was known that Pakistan had ordered 5 systems, including a total of 25 Falco UAVs with spare flight units and ground control stations (GCS). Two systems were in service by March 2009, two more had been delivered and the final assembly of the last system was being undertaken in Pakistan.〔 * In August 2009 it was reported that the Falco UAV had completed flight-tests while being launched by a catapult launch system, the Robonic MC2555LLR pneumatic launcher.〔http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/08/10/330813/auvsi-selex-galileo-proves-falcos-rail-launch-performance.html〕 Pakistan started manufacturing the Falco UAV at Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC), Kamra * Around September 2009 the first flight of a Falco UAV carrying a high resolution AESA synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sensor payload, called PicoSAR, was made.〔http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/09/08/331961/dsei-falco-uav-makes-first-flight-with-picosar-radar.html〕 * SELEX Galileo, now Selex ES, announced on 23 July 2012 that the Falcon Evo had successfully completed its 40-minute maiden flight from Cheshnegirovo air base in Bulgaria.〔http://www.selexgalileo.com/EN/Common/files/SELEX_Galileo/Press_Releases/Q3_2012/SELEXGalileo_FalcoEVOmaidenflight_gpl.pdf〕〔http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/pictures-falco-evo-uav-makes-flight-debut-374667/〕 * In August 2013, the Selex ES Falco was chosen by United Nations to be deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo to monitor movements of armed groups in the region and to protect the civilian population more effectively. * In September 2013, Selex ES has announced a deal worth over 40 million Euros (US $52 million) to sell its Falco UAV to an unnamed Middle Eastern country 〔http://archive.defensenews.com/article/20130910/DEFREG01/309100024/Selex-ES-Sells-Falco-UAV-Middle-Eastern-Country〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Selex ES Falco」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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