South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace has partnered with US drone manufacturer General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) to develop and produce advanced military drones for global export.
The two companies will collaborate to establish a robust unmanned aircraft system (UAS) ecosystem in their respective countries, in addition to scaling the production of and enhancing the capabilities of GA-ASI’s Gray Eagle short take-off and landing (GE-STOL) UAS.
Their partnership builds on the GE-STOL drone’s first flight demonstration from a South Korean warship and its subsequent landing at a ground base at the Pohang Navy Airfield in November 2024, paving new ways for it to support multi-domain operations.
“We’re excited to extend and deepen our business relationship with Hanwha,” said GA-ASI CEO Linden Blue, who oversaw the demonstration.
“Our test flight with Gray Eagle STOL was well-received by the Republic of Korea Navy, and we know Hanwha is ready to invest to grow a UAS business with GA-ASI both in Korea and the US,” Blue added.
Hanwha plans to contribute more than 750 billion Korean won ($517 million), adding to GA-ASI’s investment in UAS STOL development.
This funding will support the development and production facilities for GE STOL and UAS engines, expand research and development activities, provide production infrastructure, and foster partnerships with domestic companies in the UAS industry.
GE-STOL Plans
The GE-STOL, previously known as the Mojave demonstrator platform, shares many features with the Gray Eagle 25M UAS.
Reconfigurable for various missions, including armed reconnaissance and advanced teaming with air-launched effects, the GE-STOL is expected to carry payloads of up to 1.6 tons and operate from short and unimproved surfaces.
Hanwha and GA-ASI are eyeing drone flight tests in 2027.
With plans to pursue business opportunities in the US, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, GA-ASI projected a demand of over 600 units in the next 10 years, according to Chosun Daily.
“Hanwha Aerospace views unmanned systems as a strategic pillar for the future of defense. Through our collaboration with GA-ASI, we aim to strengthen sovereign defense capabilities, expand Korea’s presence in the global UAS market, and contribute to a more robust [South Korea and US] alliance,” said Dong Kwan Kim, Vice Chairman of Hanwha Group.
