The short takeoff and landing aircraft validates its capabilities to operate in austere environments

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) and Hanwha Aerospace have completed the first flight operations from a simulated battle scenario conducted by a medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aircraft.

The partners have demonstrated that the short takeoff and landing aircraft Mojave, or Mojave STOL, could land on a tank and artillery firing range during simulated combat conditions and take off again to continue the mission.

“This demonstration highlighted Mojave’s ability to perform tactical missions representative of the real battlefield requirements and challenges,” said Linden Blue, CEO of GA-ASI.

“Whether the user needs to conduct operations in contested and austere battlefields, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), weapon launch, deployment of air-launched effects, troop resupply, operations against UAS, or missions requiring short and unprepared roads for takeoff, our aircraft is ready to respond,” he added.

“This demonstration represents an important milestone in delivering tangible results through collaboration between Hanwha and GA-ASI,” said Buhwan Lee, CEO candidate of Hanwha Aerospace.

“Looking to the future, we will work closely with the defense industry of the Republic of Korea (ROK) to develop unmanned systems designed for future operational environments and expand our presence in international markets,” he concluded.

The Defense Drone Technology Exhibition was held in a rural area north of Seoul and showcased Mojave’s ability to operate from an austere environment with a short runway.

Configured with two rails for weapons and inert payloads, Mojave executed a concept of operations designed to demonstrate how the STOL capability enhances operational flexibility, survivability, and responsiveness for future defense applications of the Republic of Korea (ROK). The demonstration took place on the runway of the 513th Aviation Battalion of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Army and at the Seungjin training field in Pocheon-si.

Under the control of pilots operating from ground control stations, Mojave took off from a conventional runway of the 513th Aviation Battalion of the Republic of Korea (ROK), flew to the Seungjin training field, where it joined aerial operations, and subsequently landed on an unpaved maneuvering runway primarily used by tanks and artillery vehicles of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Army.

The aircraft took off again, resumed operations, and returned to the 513th Aviation Battalion of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Army. In a real combat situation, soldiers could have refueled and rearmed Mojave during the time it remained on the ground at the firing range. No other aircraft with the range, endurance, or payload of Mojave has this capability.

In 2025, GA-ASI announced its collaboration with Hanwha to jointly develop and produce UAS with STOL capability for customers worldwide, including the Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of Korea (ROK), the U.S. Department of Defense, and other international customers. The Critical Design Review (CDR) of a production Mojave STOL is expected to take place in November of this year, with a first flight planned for 2027.

Currently, the Mojave STOL demonstrator is scheduled to travel to Changwon, where it will be showcased during the Hanwha Industry Day on September 21. The event will feature participation from various suppliers from the Republic of Korea (ROK), many of whom will contribute to the production of the Mojave STOL.

About GA-ASI
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). With over 9 million flight hours, the UAS Predator® line has been flying for more than 30 years and includes MQ-9A Reaper®, MQ-1C Gray Eagle®, MQ-20 Avenger®, MQ-9B SkyGuardian®/SeaGuardian®, XQ-67A and FQ-42A.

The company specializes in providing long-endurance, multi-mission solutions that offer persistent situational awareness and rapid strike capability.

For more information: www.ga-asi.com.

Avenger, EagleEye, Gray Eagle, Lynx, Predator, Reaper, SeaGuardian and SkyGuardian are trademarks of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., registered in the United States and/or other countries.

About Hanwha Aerospace
Hanwha Aerospace is a global aerospace and defense company that offers a wide portfolio of products and services. These include ground combat vehicles such as the renowned K9 self-propelled howitzer and the Redback infantry fighting vehicle, unmanned systems, other weapon systems, ammunition, engines, and components for aircraft, as well as technological products and services.

As the largest aerospace and defense company in the Republic of Korea (ROK), Hanwha Aerospace participates in the research, development, and manufacturing of advanced technological systems and leads the country’s space projects.

For more information about Hanwha Aerospace: www.hanwhaaerospace.com.