POCHEON-SI, South Korea - General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) and Hanwha Aerospace demonstrated the ability of the Mojave short takeoff and landing (STOL) uncrewed aircraft to operate from an austere battlefield environment, including landing on a rough maneuver trail used by South Korean Army tanks and artillery vehicles and taking off again to continue its mission.

The demonstration at the Seungjin Training Field in Pocheon-si was conducted under simulated combat conditions during the Defense Drone Technology Exhibition. GA-ASI described it as the first flight operation from a simulated battlefield by a medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) uncrewed aircraft.

For the demonstration, Mojave took off from the runway at the South Korean Army 513th Aviation Battalion, flew to the Seungjin Training Field, participated in air operations, and then landed on a rough maneuver trail at the training range. The aircraft subsequently took off from the trail, resumed its operations, and returned to the 513th Aviation Battalion.

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Field testing

GA-ASI configured Mojave with dual weapon rails and inert payloads for the exercise. The company said the STOL capability could allow troops to refuel and rearm the aircraft at forward operating locations during an actual combat operation, reducing reliance on prepared runways and conventional airfield infrastructure.

The demonstration expands on Mojave's previous austere-field testing. In August 2023, GA-ASI conducted multiple Mojave takeoffs and landings from a dirt strip near El Mirage, Calif., with takeoffs performed in as little as 586 feet and landings in as little as 335 feet. GA-ASI said those tests were intended primarily to gather terrain-performance data rather than establish minimum takeoff and landing distances.

GA-ASI describes Mojave as a technical demonstrator derived from the company's Gray Eagle and Reaper aircraft families. The aircraft incorporates enlarged wings with high-lift devices, a 450-horsepower turbine engine, ruggedized landing gear, and systems derived from the Gray Eagle 25M program. GA-ASI says Mojave can support reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition, attack, contested-logistics, launched-effects, and other missions, with potential payloads including electro-optical/infrared, synthetic-aperture radar/ground-moving-target indication, electronic intelligence, and signals intelligence systems.

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The South Korean demonstration is part of GA-ASI and Hanwha's effort to develop and produce a STOL version of the Gray Eagle. The companies announced their co-development and co-production agreement in October 2025, with the production-representative Gray Eagle STOL scheduled for a first flight in 2027 and first customer deliveries planned for 2028. 

GA-ASI said the Critical Design Review for the production STOL aircraft is expected in November 2026, followed by the planned 2027 first flight. The companies intend to sell the aircraft worldwide, including to South Korea and the United States.