General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) and Hanwha Aerospace signed an agreement on October 14, 2025, to co-develop and co-produce the Short Takeoff and Landing (GE STOL) version of the Gray Eagle unmanned aircraft, with the intention of establishing a production facility in South Korea.
According to GA-ASI’s official statement, the program will immediately enter a co-development and co-production phase; the first flight test is scheduled for 2027, and initial customer deliveries are expected in 2028. GA-ASI will maintain production of other Gray Eagle models in San Diego and will handle the final system integration.
The GE STOL will be offered to international customers, including the United States Department of Defense and South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense, according to the same statement. The agreement envisions parallel production between both countries, with components manufactured in California and parts produced in South Korea.
The STOL version of the Gray Eagle is based on the demonstrator known as Mojave, which has completed several significant tests in recent years: operations from unpaved runways, live-fire tests at Yuma Proving Ground, and shipboard trials. In November 2024, Mojave operated from the South Korean amphibious assault ship ROKS Dokdo, a milestone highlighted by the company as the first mission of its kind for an aircraft of this class.
Industry sources emphasize the GE STOL’s ability to operate from semi-improved surfaces—such as dirt roads, open fields, beaches, or parking lots—broadening its operational use in reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition (RSTA), counter-UAS, and manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) missions.
In the statement, David R. Alexander, president of GA-ASI, said: “GA-ASI and Hanwha are committed to investing in this project and developing development and production capabilities in South Korea. We will leverage both companies’ expertise to rapidly bring the STOL Gray Eagle to global customers.”
For his part, Jae-il Son, CEO of Hanwha Aerospace, stated that the co-production “will create jobs and help Hanwha secure talent in related fields, as well as foster our national (Korean) UAS industrial ecosystem,” and that the company aims “to become a comprehensive UAS company capable of executing everything from design to production and maintenance.”
Industry sources note that, although the demonstrator was operated from the ROKS Dokdo, it has not been confirmed whether the Republic of Korea Navy will formally adopt the system; the two companies are in talks with potential customers.
The announcement was released during AUSA 2025, where a mock-up of the aircraft was displayed and it was explained that the joint strategy seeks to reduce risks and costs through early investment and international production sharing.
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