Source: Antena 3
Its main function will be fire prevention and firefighting, although it can have numerous surveillance and security uses, including that of the coasts to detect irregular vessels such as cayucos or pateras, something that has already been tested in Lampedusa.
"To have an aircraft like the one we have been able to see with an autonomy of 20 hours, a range of action that can perfectly go to the African coast and return without any problem... For everything, for security, maritime traffic, immigration, fires, for any need that may arise today... It would be a real luxury," said Fernando Clavijo, President of the Canary Islands Government.
The aircraft is scheduled to arrive in the archipelago for the fire season and operate year-round to assist in fire prevention, early warning and management, and the protection of biodiversity by monitoring and controlling natural areas and environmental complexes.
The project is part of the Complementary R+D+i Plan of the Ministry of Science and Innovation and the 'Canarias Geo Innovation Program 2020' launched by the Government of the Canary Islands and the Cabildo of Fuerteventura. The Falco EVO, as the aircraft is called, will have as its base of operations, flight control, data processing and maintenance, the Stratoport of the Fuerteventura Technology Park, where the agreement was signed between Telespazio Ibérica, a reference company in geoinformation in Spain, and the Leonardo Group, a world leader in space, defense and security.