General Atomics and South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace have forged a partnership to jointly develop and produce a short takeoff and landing (STOL) version of the Gray Eagle drone, with plans to establish a production facility in South Korea.
Joint Development Timeline
The agreement, signed at the Association of the US Army conference, outlines the construction of a production-representative drone, with the first flight slated for 2027 and delivery scheduled for 2028. Work is set to commence immediately.
Target Markets
While no specific customers were announced, the companies aim to market the Gray Eagle STOL variant to the Pentagon and South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense, according to a news release.
Production Plan
The companies intend to establish a production facility in South Korea for the manufacture and final assembly of the Gray Eagle. General Atomics will maintain responsibility for the final integration of mission systems.
General Atomics spokesman C. Mark Brinkley told Breaking Defense that both companies would handle elements of production for the initial aircraft. General Atomics will conduct work in California, while Hanwha will carry out its tasks at its facilities in Korea.
Anticipating Orders
„We are talking to a number of potential customers and anticipate new orders to arrive in parallel to standing up the production lines and building the first production representative aircraft,” Brinkley said.
STOL Capabilities Demonstrated
General Atomics introduced its STOL variant of the Gray Eagle in 2021 and has since conducted numerous demonstrations with its test aircraft, known as Mojave. Notably, General Atomics and Hanwha operated Mojave from the South Korean Navy’s amphibious landing ship ROKS Dokdo while at sea off the coast of South Korea.
South Korean Industry Growth
„Co-producing GE [Gray Eagle] 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,” said Jae-il Son, president and CEO of Hanwha Aerospace, in a news release. „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.”
Commitment to Investment
GA-ASI President Dave Alexander stated that both companies „are committed to investing in this project and building development and production capabilities in South Korea.”
