Argentina Eyes Italian Falco, Israeli Heron UAVs

Argentina is reportedly evaluating medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from Italy and Israel.

Defense ministry officials are expected to inspect the Falco Xplorer and Falco Evo in Italy, as well as the IAI Heron in Israel, according to SA Defensa.

The Falco Xplorer, developed by Leonardo, features a 9-meter fuselage, an 18.8-meter wingspan, and a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 1,300 kg. It offers over 24 hours of endurance, can carry more than 350 kg of payload, and operates beyond line of sight (BLOS) via satellite communication (SATCOM). The system is designed for both military and government missions, including regional surveillance, intelligence gathering, and reconnaissance. Its sensor suite includes a synthetic aperture radar (SAR), an electro-optical (EO) turret, and a signal intelligence suite, providing real-time intelligence to command centers.

The Falco Evo, a variant of the Falco system, has a 6.2-meter fuselage, a 12.5-meter wingspan, and an MTOW of 650 kg. It is optimized for surveillance missions with a 20+ hour endurance and can carry payloads exceeding 100 kg. It is capable of real-time target detection and classification in ground and maritime environments, integrating with national command and control networks.

The Israeli-made IAI Heron, in service with over 22 operators worldwide, features a fuselage length of 8.5 meters, a 16.6-meter wingspan, and an MTOW of 1,270 kg. It can carry up to 470 kg of payload and has a maximum endurance of 45 hours. Operating at altitudes above 35,000 feet, the Heron utilizes SATCOM for beyond-line-of-sight missions and can perform intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) roles in diverse terrains. It is also used for naval operations by the Israeli Navy and has been deployed in extreme weather conditions.