Micro Falcon LE
Innocon · Israel · also known as MicroFalcon LE · Updated
Micro Falcon LE is a man-portable reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle made by Innocon of Israel, the longer-endurance member of the company's MicroFalcon family of small UAVs. It is built for covert, close-range observation by a single operator, covering roles such as urban reconnaissance and over-the-hill surveillance.
Overview
Innocon's MicroFalcon family comprises three aircraft of increasing size and endurance: the 2.5 kg Spider, the roughly 6 kg base MicroFalcon, and the 10 kg Micro Falcon LE, which the Center for a New American Security's Proliferated Drones database lists with the longest range and endurance of the three. All three share a belly-mounted camera for a continuous view of the ground below, use Innocon's Naviator flight-control computer to automate takeoff, landing and other flight phases, and are designed to recover by parachute — a method Shephard Media reported lets the MicroFalcon land upside down without damage, reducing turnaround time between flights.
Innocon has marketed the MicroFalcon line with Controp Precision Technologies' STAMP (Stabilized Miniature Payload) electro-optical/infrared gimbal, a sub-kilogram day/night camera system also selected by the Israel Defense Forces for its own Sky Rider mini-UAV programme.
Design and capabilities
The CNAS Proliferated Drones database lists Micro Falcon LE with a 2 m wingspan, a maximum take-off weight of 10 kg, a 2 kg payload capacity, a range of 40 km, an endurance of 4 hours, a maximum speed of 120 km/h and a service ceiling of 4,572 m (15,000 ft). The airframe uses a boxed, biplane-style wing. Earlier Shephard Media coverage of the lighter base MicroFalcon describes the family's camera-on-belly layout and Naviator flight computer, which the company says lets an operator focus on the payload rather than piloting.
Frequently asked questions
What is the range of Micro Falcon LE?
40 km, according to the CNAS Proliferated Drones database.
How long can Micro Falcon LE fly?
Up to 4 hours, per the same source.
How is Micro Falcon LE recovered?
By parachute; Innocon's MicroFalcon family can land upside-down under canopy, which Shephard Media reports reduces the risk of damage and speeds redeployment.
How does Micro Falcon LE differ from the base MicroFalcon?
It is roughly 10 kg versus about 6 kg for the base model, with a longer quoted range and endurance, as the larger member of Innocon's MicroFalcon family.
What payload does it carry?
Up to 2 kg, which can include Controp's STAMP stabilised electro-optical/infrared camera gimbal.
