At the 53rd International Paris Air Show opened at Le Bourget on June 17, 2019, Italy's Leonardo unveiled its MALE remotely-piloted air system (PRAS), the Falco Xplorer. Certification trials are expected to start in June and be completed by the end of 2019, as reported.

The first prototype of Leonardo’s unmanned air system, the Falco Xplorer (serial number 0001, registration number XAV-SA-007) at the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget, June 17, 2019 (c) Mikhail Zherdev

Notwithstanding its name, the Falco Xplorer has no direct relation to the famous Leonardo’s Falco family of tactical PRAS and has dimensions and appearance more akin to the American General Atomics Predator line.
According to Leonardo, the Falco Xplorer has a maximum takeoff weight of 1,300 kg with a maximum payload of 350 kg; a wingspan of 18.5 m and a length of 9 m. The Xplorer is equipped with a Rotax Heavy Fuel Engine and retractable landing gear. The system has a maximum endurance of 24 hours and an operating ceiling of 24,000-30,000 feet (7,000-9,000 m).
The system is controlled through a satellite communication. The unveiled reconnaissance Block 10 configuration comes with a Gabbiano T-80 multi-function synthetic aperture surveillance radar, LEOSS electro-optical turret and SAGE electronic intelligence suite. Currently, the system is not proposed for military market (partly due to Italian political considerations), although equipping it with munition is considered as an “option”.
So far, the Falco Xplorer has yet to have customers, but the Italian Air Forces will be involved in its certification process.

The first prototype of Leonardo’s unmanned air system, the Falco Xplorer (serial number 0001, registration number XAV-SA-007), at the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget, June 17, 2019 (c) www.ainonline.com & www.portaledifesa.it

The first prototype of Leonardo’s unmanned air system, the Falco Xplorer (serial number 0001, registration number XAV-SA-007), at the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget, June 17, 2019 (c) Mikhail Zherdev

Photo of Italian Leonardo’s Falco Xplorer (с) Leonardo (via Jane's)

Source: lifejournal