FALCO UAV ON U.N. MISSION CRASHES IN DRC
KINSHASA - A Falco unmanned air vehicle (UAV) in service with United Nations peacekeepers has crashed during a mission over the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The UAV is manufactured by Selex.
The UAV crashed on October 20 shortly after taking off from Goma airport. The air vehicle came down in an uninhabited area three kilometers north of Goma. The crash is under investigation.
The UN deployed five Falco UAVs to Goma in December 2013. This is the first deployment of UAVs by the United Nations. The UAVs began flying on December 3. The UAVs allow the U.N. to better monitor remote areas of the DRC.
In 2013, Selex ES received a three year contract from the U.N. to operate the Falco UAV in the eastern DRC. The air vehicles were delivered to the DRC by the Italian Air Force in mid-November.