Hanwha Aerospace and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) have signed a strategic cooperation agreement to co-develop and manufacture the Gray Eagle Short Takeoff and Landing (GE STOL) drone, expanding both firms’ unmanned systems portfolios.
Under the deal, Hanwha will contribute major structural and system components—including the engine, avionics suite, and landing gear—that enable the UAS to launch and recover from short or improvised runways. The Korean firm will also establish a dedicated production site to manage assembly and component fabrication domestically.
GA-ASI, based in the United States, will continue to handle system-level integration and the production of other Gray Eagle models.
The companies emphasized that the collaboration will shorten development timelines, reduce technical and manufacturing risk, and support South Korea’s broader industrial self-reliance goals in defense aviation.
A production-standard version of the aircraft is expected by 2027, followed by initial deliveries in 2028.
“Producing the GE STOL jointly in South Korea and the US will help nurture the local workforce, advance aerospace skills, and strengthen our UAS industry,” said Hanwha Aerospace CEO Jae-il Son.
“This partnership positions Hanwha as a leading end-to-end UAS provider, leveraging its experience in aircraft engines, radar, and avionics.”
Gray Eagle STOL Overview
The GE STOL drone is tailored for intelligence, surveillance, target tracking, and coordinated missions with manned aircraft.
It is 29 feet (9 meters) long with a 52-foot (16-meter) wingspan, allowing transport via a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. Its 3,000-pound (1,361-kilogram) fuel capacity and 3,400-pound (1,542-kilogram) payload capacity enable the carriage of up to 16 AGM-114 Hellfire missiles.
The platform employs satellite-based communications, offering a range of 2,500 nautical miles (4,630 kilometers) and ruggedized components for extreme operational conditions. It uses the same mission architecture as the Gray Eagle 25M for compatibility and streamlined logistics.
Equipped with a Rolls-Royce M250 engine rated at 450 horsepower, the drone achieves 140 knots (259 km/h) speed, 25-hour endurance, and a 25,000-foot (7,620-meter) ceiling.
Its prototype, Mojave, has already validated these capabilities through multiple trials. In 2024, it took off and landed from the ROKS Dokdo during sea trials near Pohang and earlier demonstrated carrier operations from HMS Prince of Wales, along with live-fire missions at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona.
