Safran, UVAD Technologies spool up engine pact for Falcon supersonic target

Flight testing is on track to take off during 2027, companies say.
Safran Power Units is to provide turbojet engines for use by aerial target developer UVAD Technologies’ Mach 1.6-capable Falcon design.

Announcing their partnership during the Euronaval exhibition in Paris earlier this month, the companies described the twin-engined Falcon as “an innovative, affordable, and reusable supersonic aerial target designed to support the increasingly sophisticated missile defence training required by the armed forces”.

“Our two companies share a common vision for high-performance, affordable defence systems capable of addressing the challenges of the future, particularly those posed by supersonic threats,” says UVAD chief executive David Birkett.

To operate at low- to medium-altitude, the design will benefit from “rapid deployment and recovery… [which] allows for more frequent and cost-effective training sessions for air, naval, and missile defense operators”, the partners say.

Notably, the uncrewed aerial vehicle’s modular architecture and autonomous flight system “will allow a single operator to oversee multiple drones simultaneously, optimising the efficiency and flexibility of training scenarios”.

“The choice of our engines will make a significant contribution to the Falcon’s capabilities in terms of supersonic flight, robustness, and cost-effectiveness,” says Safran Power Units chief executive Ghislaine Doukhan.

“The programme will enter its flight test phase in 2027,” the companies say.

Redcliff, Alberta-based UVAD says its Falcon air vehicle will have a maximum take-off weight of 450kg (992lb), including a 50kg-capacity payload.

Twin-engined design will deliver a top speed of Mach 1.6. Source: UVAD Technologies

“Its architecture also offers potential for broader high-speed missions beyond simulating modern threats,” the companies note.

In addition to its potential as a target, the Canadian company believes other applications could include intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, interceptor tasks, or serving as an attritable autonomous collaborative platform alongside crewed fighters.

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