Leonardo, during the Dubai Airshow 2017, announced the first delivery of Falco EVO, Remote Pilotage System (SAPR), to its launch client, a Middle Eastern country. The first of the new production aircraft was completed in August with the acceptance test completed in Italy at Ronchi dei Legionari, Leonardo's design and construction site for remote pilot systems. The aircraft was delivered in September.
Falco EVO, an advanced version of the remote pilot system of the Leonardo Falco family, is a surveillance and information acquisition platform that can fly for over 20 consecutive hours with the ability to embark equipment up to 100 kg. Falco EVO has already been selected by two Middle Eastern countries, replicating Falco's success that has been chosen by five international customers. The already operable Falcon can be converted to the EVO version by installing a worm, tail and diver transformation kit.
More than 50 SAPRs from the Falco family are currently operating around the world. Leonardo was among the first to experience the formula of the service of patrol missions carried out by drones, as in the case of the United Nations that adopted the Falcon for the MONUSCO humanitarian mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This type of service requires both Leonardo to operate its aircraft and provide customer surveillance data. The new approach is considered by society
as a promising business segment for the future. Therefore, a collaboration has recently been signed with the certified aircraft operator Heli Protection Europe (HPE), with the aim of proposing to the civil market surveillance and reconnaissance services based on drones for clients such as police forces and operators engaged in the management of emergencies.
Leonardo is the only company in Europe capable of offering a complete owner drone from the initial design to operation, including sensors, mission management system and land control station.
The Falco is also the only European remotely piloted aircraft in its class to have been exported and operated by international customers. In addition to the Falco, Leonardo is a leader in the field of remotely piloted rotary wing aircraft, with the 'Solo' and the 'Hero'. In addition, the "Defense Equipment and Support" (DE&S) of the British Ministry of Defense has recently signed a two-year agreement with Leonardo for the joint financing of research and development activities in the sector, with the key objective of identifying, enhancing and using the opportunities offered by these innovative technologies.
