The Spanish company EINSA has presented a major innovation at FEINDEF: the new Falcata light air-droppable vehicle, commonly known as mechanical "mules," which stand out for their lightness, mobility, and versatility.
The new Falcata is larger than its predecessor but maintains the same mobility and versatility qualities, being air-transportable inside the Spanish Air Force (Ejército del Aire y del Espacio) aircraft without any modifications, and can also be parachuted.
Like the Neton special operations vehicle, it has opted for a Toyota-sourced mechanical platform that it has adapted to its requirements, creating a body that maintains the brand image debuted on the Neton at the front. The bodywork changes are midway through, with a passenger compartment configured for two people in the front and two folding rear seats, plus a cargo platform that can carry various equipment, such as the loiterings from the Spanish company Arquimea, which were displayed on the vehicle.
It has a diesel engine offering three power levels, up to 150 kW, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, a combination that allows a speed of 120 km/h and a payload of one ton with a total weight of 2.1 tons.
Load Positioners and the Alano UGV
EINSA is an international leader in ground support equipment for civil and military aircraft, highlighting external load positioners for combat aircraft, such as the VAP-40D ATEX, designed to operate in potentially explosive conditions. It is worth noting that EINSA has supplied this type of positioners to Lockheed Martin since 2014 to equip the F-35s for the export market. In the case of the VAP-40D ATEX, it is configured to operate safely in potentially explosive atmospheres, so its systems have undergone a major redesign to isolate it from external conditions.
Two units of the ALANO unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) are also on display at FEINDEF, one at the company's own stand and the other at the Army stand. This system was developed within the framework of a COINCIDENTE program run by the Ministry of Defense in conjunction with Sener and INTA. EINSA also recently reached an agreement with the Estonian manufacturer Milrem to market its THeMIS UGV in Spain, enabling it to offer tracked and wheeled UGVs.
