Falco UAV makes first flight with PicoSAR radar

[SBD-3]

By Craig Hoyle

Selex Galileo has test flown a Falco unmanned air vehicle in the UK with its PicoSAR miniature synthetic aperture radar payload, and says the combination could play a valuable role in detecting improvised explosive devices.

Flown at the company's UAV test facility at the ParcAberporth centre of excellence in west Wales, the Falco tactical air vehicle was equipped with the active electronically scanned array PicoSAR and an electro-optical/infrared sensor for the recent trials activity.

"The high-resolution SAR, coupled with change detection, make the radar particularly useful for counter-IED missions, detecting disturbances in ground surface," Selex Galileo says. Weighing just 10kg (22lb), the sensor can produce SAR imagery in both strip and spot modes from a range of up to 20km (10.8nm), and collect ground moving target indication data.

Selex Galileo has also revealed further details of a separate test campaign conducted with the Falco at the Robonic Arctic Test UAV Flight Centre in Kemijarvi, Finland from late July. The company performed handover missions with an air vehicle equipped with a more powerful datalink, and says these demonstrated the ability to perform surveillance tasks "much beyond line-of-sight".

The company also used the Finnish campaign to test an improved version of its truck-mounted high-mobility ground control station, which provides command and control services for the Falco system, plus mission planning and debriefing functions.

Pakistan is in the process of acquiring Falco systems from Selex Galileo, and the company has previously identified Libya as another possible future buyer. The UAV has a maximum take-off weight of 420kg and a mission endurance of 8-14h, depending on payload configuration.


The Falco can carry a wide range of surveillance payloads, says Selex Galileo. These can include a laser designator, maritime surveillance radar and nuclear, biological and chemical detection sensors. The air vehicle can also be equipped with chaff and flare dispensers for self-protection purposes.

With an endurance of 9-14+ h and a standard control link range of 200 km (370nm), the Falco has short take-off capability from semi-prepared airstrips, or can be launched using a pneumatic catapult. Recovery is made via either automatic landing, tactical short landing or by parachute.
ASIAN DEFENCE: Falco UAV makes first flight with PicoSAR radar

 

[Super Falcon]

welll i think pakistan army should buyed more lethal UAV from germany

 

[XYON]

welll i think pakistan army should buyed more lethal UAV from germany

Germans do not make lethal (UCAV) drones.

Even if they did, they will never sell them to Pakistan

 

[Super Falcon]

At the MAKS-2009, Russia has displayed the full-sized mock-up of a new UAV “Dozor-3 “(now renamed “Dozor-600“, in accordance with a maximum takeoff weight). According to the information, Dozor-3 is a medium-altitude UAV long endurance UAV. Information about Dozor-600 / Dozor-3 UAV was first presented in 2008 and UAV is schedule to fly in 2010 for the first time.



Multi-Purpose Unmanned aerial vehicle is designed to search, locate and identify targets, located at a considerable distance from the launch point of the vehicle. Dozor-600 will be able to provide pictures and video of the target in real time. These tasks it can perform day and night, in simple and adverse weather conditions. It will be capable of patrolling the land and maritime boundaries, conducting aerial photography and remote sensing, and remote monitoring of extended infrastructure facilities, ice reconnaissance, and surveillance of protected sites.



Dozor-600 UAV has a-power plant at the rear with a V-Shape Tail. The fuselage consists of three main parts. Sensors, flight control and navigation systems and parachute system in front, fuel tank in the middle and power plant at the end. To ensure easy transportation and storage (in a special container on the trailer) wing and tail surfaces are made removable. It will take Dozor-600 only 60 minutes to re-assemble and prepare for the take-off.



It will carry three types of payload: synthetic aperture radar, optical and thermal imaging for video and high-resolution camera with interchangeable lenses for pictures. It will be capable of sending the information to ground station in real-time and with a backup storage on board. It can be piloted manually by an operator or it can fly autonomously (by programming it to fly in an area through 250 reference points, accuracy of navigation is 15-30m) or combined (autonomous and manual

 

[Arsalan]

i guess we are in a satisfactory position as far as UAV are concerned. we are making some indegenious UAV and now the production of Falco have also started and lessons learned from this project will surely further improve the standard of our own UAV projects,
the next step is the UCAV, burraq is a reported indegenious UCAV under development. moreover Falco is also reported t come in an armed version soon and PA will surely eye that system,
the terrain and current situation we are in strongly support the idea of procurement of UCAVz!
i hope the projects stay on track!

regards!

 

[ISRO2]

At the MAKS-2009, Russia has displayed the full-sized mock-up of a new UAV “Dozor-3 “(now renamed “Dozor-600“, in accordance with a maximum takeoff weight). According to the information, Dozor-3 is a medium-altitude UAV long endurance UAV. Information about Dozor-600 / Dozor-3 UAV was first presented in 2008 and UAV is schedule to fly in 2010 for the first time.



Multi-Purpose Unmanned aerial vehicle is designed to search, locate and identify targets, located at a considerable distance from the launch point of the vehicle. Dozor-600 will be able to provide pictures and video of the target in real time. These tasks it can perform day and night, in simple and adverse weather conditions. It will be capable of patrolling the land and maritime boundaries, conducting aerial photography and remote sensing, and remote monitoring of extended infrastructure facilities, ice reconnaissance, and surveillance of protected sites.



Dozor-600 UAV has a-power plant at the rear with a V-Shape Tail. The fuselage consists of three main parts. Sensors, flight control and navigation systems and parachute system in front, fuel tank in the middle and power plant at the end. To ensure easy transportation and storage (in a special container on the trailer) wing and tail surfaces are made removable. It will take Dozor-600 only 60 minutes to re-assemble and prepare for the take-off.



It will carry three types of payload: synthetic aperture radar, optical and thermal imaging for video and high-resolution camera with interchangeable lenses for pictures. It will be capable of sending the information to ground station in real-time and with a backup storage on board. It can be piloted manually by an operator or it can fly autonomously (by programming it to fly in an area through 250 reference points, accuracy of navigation is 15-30m) or combined (autonomous and manual

Sir is there any chance india would get that russian Dozor-3 or Dozor-600? Is it similar to american drone?

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

how do they compare to the Pakistani UAVs like Jasoos, Nishan and the other ones?

i don't know much about UAVs.

 

[graphican]

Dozor-600

It doesn't look any better than FALCO. PAF has done well with this deal.

 

[BATMAN]

Germans do not make lethal (UCAV) drones.

Even if they did, they will never sell them to Pakistan

Germans do make lethal UAV 'Barracuda' and R&D for more lethal are underway.
As the future holds in UAV's no country can afford to lag behind in this tech.
Pakistan have head start so no need to waste it buy buying foreign made.
I think now Pakistan's private industry also need to move forward and cut a joint development venture with some western manufacturer.

 

[Arsalan]

Sir is there any chance india would get that russian Dozor-3 or Dozor-600? Is it similar to american drone?

by drones if you mean to point at UCAV like predetor and reaper then the answer is NO,,
it is a UAV and not a UCAV!

regards!