General Atomics, Hanwha to Co-Develop Gray Eagle STOL Drone
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) and South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace have signed an agreement to jointly design and build the Gray Eagle Short Takeoff and Landing (GE STOL) drone.
Under the agreement, Hanwha will provide major components, including engines, landing gear, and avionics that support the unmanned aerial system (UAS) in operating across confined areas without full runways.
The Gyeongsang-based company will also set up a local production facility for related assembly and manufacturing processes.
Simultaneously, GA-ASI will oversee system integration and continue producing other Gray Eagle models in the US.
Both firms said the project will help speed up development while reducing manufacturing risks. The partnership will also support South Korea’s goal of expanding its domestic drone industry and creating new high-tech jobs.
A production-ready model is expected in 2027, with deliveries beginning in 2028.
“Jointly producing GE STOL in South Korea and the US will create jobs and help Hanwha secure talent in related fields as well as foster our domestic (Korean) UAS industry ecosystem,” said Jae-il Son, CEO of Hanwha Aerospace.
“Hanwha is poised to become a comprehensive UAS company capable of executing everything from design to production and maintenance based on our capabilities, which span from fighter jet engines to radar and avionics equipment.”
The GE STOL
The GE STOL is engineered to execute missions, including surveillance, target tracking, and coordination with manned aircraft beyond the limits of conventional UAS.
It measures 29 feet (9 meters) long and has a wingspan of 52 feet (16 meters), allowing transport with a single UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.
The system has a fuel capacity of 3,000 pounds (1,361 kilograms), a usable load of 3,400 pounds (1,542 kilograms), and could deploy up to 16 Hellfire missiles.
The platform is fitted with a satellite communications-based control for a range of 2,500 nautical miles (2,877 miles/4,630 kilometers), built with ruggedized components to withstand harsh weather and environments, and contains similar hardware and software inside the standard Gray Eagle 25M model for relative flight performance.
It is equipped with a Rolls-Royce M250 engine with an output of 450 horsepower for a speed of 140 knots (161 miles/259 kilometers per hour), endurance of 25 hours, and a service ceiling of 25,000 feet (7,620 feet).
A prototype of the drone, called Mojave, has already completed several test flights.
In 2024, GA-ASI and Hanwha launched and landed Mojave from the South Korean Navy ship ROKS Dokdo while it was at sea near Pohang.
The aircraft has also operated from the British carrier HMS Prince of Wales and conducted live-fire testing at the Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona.
