General Atomics and Hanwha Join Forces for Gray Eagle STOL Drone

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems announced on March 5, 2024, that it has formed a partnership with South Korean firm Hanwha Aerospace to develop a short-takeoff-and-landing (STOL) version of the Gray Eagle drone. This collaboration aims to design and produce a production-representative version of the drone, with an initial flight planned for 2027 and deliveries expected to commence in 2028.

Collaboration and Development Plans

The partnership was formalized during a signing ceremony, where David Alexander, president of General Atomics’ aeronautics division, emphasized the commitment of both companies to invest in the project. “We’ll be leveraging the expertise of both companies to quickly bring the Gray Eagle STOL to global customers,” Alexander stated. The STOL variant is expected to appeal to a range of international customers, including the U.S. and South Korean militaries.

Production for this specific model will take place at a newly established facility in South Korea, differing from other Gray Eagle models manufactured in San Diego, California. According to General Atomics, this localized production will help reduce costs. The company will oversee the final integration of the drone’s systems.

Enhanced Operational Capabilities

The STOL version of the Gray Eagle is designed to take off and land on various surfaces, including dirt roads, open fields, and parking lots. This capability significantly enhances its operational versatility, making it suitable for reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition, and counter-drone missions in diverse environments.

In August 2023, General Atomics successfully flew its demonstrator prototype, named Mojave, from a dirt strip near El Mirage, California. During this test, Mojave achieved takeoffs in as little as 586 feet and landings within just 335 feet. This performance indicates a promising ability for military services to deploy drones to nontraditional forward locations without the need for standard runway infrastructure.

Equipped with the capacity to carry up to 16 Hellfire missiles or similar armaments, Mojave features a ruggedized airframe designed for operation in harsh conditions. Additionally, the drone’s portability allows it to be transported in a C-130 aircraft, facilitating rapid assembly and deployment.

General Atomics and Hanwha have previously collaborated, successfully launching the Mojave demonstrator from a South Korean navy amphibious landing ship in 2024. Mojave has also been integrated into exercises with the British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales and has undergone live-fire testing at Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona.

This new partnership signifies a strategic move for both General Atomics and Hanwha, aiming to leverage their combined expertise to meet the growing demand for advanced drone technology in the global defense market.