Falcon
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This article is about the Eldar vehicle; for the Pre-Heresy Raven Guard Assault Squads, see Falcons (Raven Guard). |
The Falcon Grav-tank is a versatile vehicle used by the Eldar both as a transport and main battle tank.[1]
Its name is a rough translation of Faolchu, who in Eldar mythology was the consort of the Great Hawk and during the War in Heaven retrieved the sword Anaris from Vaul, thereby enabling Eldanesh to continue his combat with Khaine. This principle of delivering the sword is represented in the Falcon's design, taking the fight to the enemy and retrieving beleaguered troops if the combat becomes too fierce.[1][2][3b]
Technical Information
The anti-gravitic generators which give the Falcon its amazing speed and agility are prime examples of the Eldar's technological mastery. Thanks to these powerful devices a Falcon can achieve speeds of up to 800 kph and soar to altitudes much higher than the equivalent Imperial craft, giving it limited flight capability. The Falcon's crew of pilot and gunner will themselves be veteran pilots, having learned their craft either on Eldar Jetbikes or along a similar Path, and take full advantage of these abilities, hiding within cloud cover only to swoop down on their pre-selected targets at high speed to deliver death and destruction.[2][3b] The Falcon can be constructed on all Eldar Craftworlds, even many Exodite worlds have the limited capability to manufacture and repair the grav-tank.[4]
The Falcon's weapon systems can be tailored towards fighting in any role. In addition to the standard Pulse Laser the gunner's turret can mount a Scatter Laser or Shuriken Cannon for mowing down infantry, a Starcannon to deal with light armour, or a Bright Lance or Missile Launcher for increase anti-tank firepower. Twin-linked Shuriken Catapults located beneath the pilot's cockpit can also be switched out for a single Shuriken Cannon, while the craft can be further upgraded with a Holo-field, Spirit Stones, Star Engines and Vectored Engines.[2][3b] Like all Eldar vehicles the Falcon is constructed from Wraithbone and other psycho-plastics, lightweight material which is incredibly strong and specially attuned to the Eldar's psychic abilities. This not only allows the vehicle to be controlled with both mind and body, but makes it impossible for other races to duplicate or operate the vehicle.[3b][3c]
The crew compartment on the Falcon is located in the rear of the vehicle and accessed by a single door. Though capable of carrying up to six fully-equipped Eldar, such as Guardians and Aspect Warriors, it is unable to carry larger constructs like Wraithguard.[2] The compartment is sealed and pressurised and has monitors to allow its transported troops to observe the outside environments.[4]
The Falcon has more than one aesthetic design as a result of differing consensus between Bonesinger Design Schools. Both have the same weapons and characteristics, but as dominant schools changed the older designs are seen less often but both are known as Falcons to Imperial Scholars.[7b]
| Technical Information | |||
| Length | 9.63m[4] | 
| |
| Height | 3.61m[4] | ||
| Hull Width | 6.92m[4] | ||
| Weight | 20 tonnes[4] | ||
| Armour | 35-60mm[4] | ||
| Speed at low altitude | 180kph[4] | ||
| Speed at high altitude | 800kph[4] | ||
| Crew | 2, Pilot, Gunner[4] | ||
| Passengers | 6 Eldar[4] | ||
| Armament | Pulse laser, twin-linked shuriken catapults[4] various configurations of secondary weapons including shuriken cannon, scatter laser, missile launcher, bright lance and starcannon[4] | ||
| Main Ammunition | 4000 shots pulse capacity[4] | ||
Images
A Biel-Tan Falcon grav-tank
A Saim-Hann Falcon grav-tank
3rd Edition Epic-Scale Falcon
Development History
 |
The Falcon was one of several Eldar vehicles with more than one model. Design Schools were introduced in Epic Swordwind (2005) as an in-universe explanation for this difference in Eldar vehicle designs in Epic.
Armorcast Warhammer 40,000-scale Falcon
(based on 1st Edition Epic sculpt)[5]
Falcons art.[6]
See also
Sources
- 1: Codex: Eldar (3rd Edition), pg. 14
- 2: Codex: Eldar (4th Edition), pg. 42
- 3: Imperial Armour Volume Eleven - The Doom of Mymeara:
- 4: White Dwarf 253 (UK), pg. 52 — Chapter Approved: Transport Vehicle Rules
- 5: Armorcast Warhammer 40,000 Model Archive (saved archive page, dated November 2001, last accessed 20 March 2025)
- 6: Renegades, pg. 6
- 7: Epic: Swordwind
| Craftworld Eldar Vehicles | |
|---|---|
| Light Vehicles | Jetbike (Raptor Jetbike) • Hornet • Vyper |
| Walkers | War Walker • Wasp Assault Walker • Scout Walker |
| Wraith Constructs | Wraithblade • Wraithguard • Wraithknight • Wraithlord • Wraithseer |
| Artillery | Anti-Aircraft Platform • Support Weapon Batteries (D-Cannon • Vibro Cannon • Shadow Weaver) |
| Grav-Tanks | Falcon • Fire Prism • Firestorm • Night Spinner • Warp Hunter • Wave Serpent |
| Super-Heavy Grav-Tanks | Cobra • Lynx • Scorpion • Storm Serpent • Void Spinner |
| Super-Heavy Walkers | Eldar Knight • Eldar Titan (Revenant • Phantom • Warlock) |
| Aircraft | Hemlock • Nightwing • Nightshade (Crimson Hunter) • Phoenix • Vampire Raider • Vampire Hunter • Dawnsail • |
