Missions of Falcon Multi-role Aircraft

The twinjet Falcon is twice faster than a turboprop. This is crucial for quick intervention, difficult missions and for reconnaissance of large areas. The twin-engine jet provides significant out-capability and unrivalled flying qualities. Fast and safe, the Falcon can easily climb to high altitudes and, thanks to its very high operational ceiling, it allows flying in bad weather conditions, even on a single engine.

The Multi-role Falcon combines the reliability, maintainability and low life-cycle costs of their commercial counterpart with a state-of-the-art mission system, advanced sensors and a complete communication suite, to create an effective and affordable asset, capable of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, while keeping growth capabilities.

The baseline of such a Multi-role Falcon features the following “main” equipment and sensors:

The Tactical Mission System is an advanced solution benefiting from the experienced gained on existing production lines. The key operational functionalities contributing to the operators’ situation awareness are:

• A tactical situation awareness combining the major sensors,
• A full set of tactical aids and decision toolset that speeds up decision-making,
• A cohesive Common Operational Picture displaying all tracks, tactical areas, flight plan, Sensor Imagery, maps,
• Tactical pictures/information exchanges fully embedded in the Common Operational Picture,
• Data cross sharing between numerous sensors, such as the Radar, EO/IR turret, and other devices.
• The Falcon state-of-the-art EASy glass cockpit is interfaced with the tactical missions system, providing the pilots with specific information.

A multimode Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, which is able to perform long-range 360° detection, tracking and identification of targets. The radar is designed for operations against sea-surface targets, providing excellent Track While Scan (TWS) capabilities.

It also features air-to-air and weather modes, plus surface/ground Moving Target Indicator (MTI) capabilities, which also allows overland surveillance. Available imaging modes include Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR/ISAR) for all-weather conditions.

Capable of surface mapping of wide domains and high-resolution modes, coupled to Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (ISAR) and Range Profile Dynamic ones, the Forces benefit from a detailed situation of seaborne targets. To ease the targets/threats identifications, the radar can be coupled with an IFF Interrogator and Transponder with different modes, allowing an automatic identification through the mission system.

Almost all existing multimode radars might be considered, on board the multi-role Falcon.

An Electro-Optical/ Infra-Red turret equipped with various sensors. Depending on the requested EO/IR sensors, this optical turret can allow passive target detections and identification capabilities, at day or night conditions. Typically, the basic sensors’ payload of such a turret includes a high definition, colour and a low light TV camera, but also an advanced infrared imaging system (with different length waves).

Laser devices such as a rangefinder, a designator or an illuminator can be embedded into the turret to provide enhanced capabilities.

The Communication Suite includes HF and V/UHF radios, as well as a wide band SATCOM system, managed through an advanced internal communication system, allows easy operational data exchanges with cooperating assets and ground control centres.