General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) and South Korean firm Hanwha Aerospace have signed an agreement to co-develop and co-produce the Gray Eagle® Short Takeoff and Landing (GE STOL) Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS).
The landmark deal, signed on October 14, 2025, extends beyond traditional alliance structures in U.S.-Korea defense cooperation to deliver next-generation, runway-independent UAS solutions. Work is set to begin immediately on the program. The resulting GE STOL platform will be offered to a worldwide customer base, including the South Korea Ministry of Defense and the United States War Department.
The companies will design and build a production representative GE STOL, with the maiden flight scheduled for 2027 and first customer delivery in 2028. GA-ASI has already flown a prototype, demonstrating the program’s ability to accelerate from development to delivery by leveraging the Gray Eagle foundation and existing investments. This partnership is described as offering the fastest path with the lowest risk to operational capability.
GA-ASI and Hanwha Aerospace will work closely throughout the design phase and establish a production facility in South Korea for final assembly and manufacturing of the GE STOL. GA-ASI will handle the final integration of the system and will continue to produce its other Gray Eagle models in San Diego.
GA-ASI President David R. Alexander said, “GA-ASI and Hanwha are committed to investing in this project and building development and production capabilities in South Korea. We’ll be leveraging the expertise of both companies to quickly bring the Gray Eagle STOL to global customers.”
The Gray Eagle STOL is designed to be the only medium-altitude, long-endurance UAS in its class to offer true runway independence, capable of operating from semi-improved surfaces such as dirt roads, open fields, beaches, and parking lots. This feature exponentially increases its operational employment by providing multi-mission capability for Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition (RSTA), Counter Unmanned Aerial System (CUAS), and other missions including Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) while leveraging the GE STOL’s modular open systems approach.
Using the GE STOL demonstrator, named Mojave, GA-ASI has already recorded several aviation milestones. In 2024, GA-ASI and Hanwha flew Mojave from the South Korean Navy’s amphibious landing ship ROKS Dokdo (LPH-6111) while underway at sea. Other demonstrations include launch and recovery aboard the British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales in 2023, live-fire testing at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona in 2024, and dirt strip operations in 2023.
This initiative aligns with Hanwha’s strategic investment plan in its UAS business and GA-ASI’s focus on UAS development. The companies state this approach reduces risk and lowers lifecycle costs through international cost-sharing, ensuring timely delivery of next-generation UAS solutions.
Mr. Jae-il Son, President and CEO of Hanwha Aerospace, stated, “Jointly producing GE STOL in South Korea and the U.S. will create jobs and help Hanwha secure talent in related fields as well as foster our domestic (Korean) UAS industry ecosystem.
“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.”
