Mojave STOL UAS Demonstrates Dirt Road Operations in South Korea

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) and Hanwha Aerospace successfully demonstrated the Mojave Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) uncrewed aircraft system operating from a simulated dirt battlefield road in South Korea on September 16, 2026. The medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) aircraft departed the Republic of Korea (ROK) Army 513th Aviation Battalion airfield and landed on a narrow tank and artillery live-fire maneuver road at the Seungjin Training Field in Pocheon-si.

Announced via a joint press release, the flight took place during the 2026 Defense Drone Technology Exhibition hosted by the South Korean Ministry of National Defense. The demonstration was designed to validate the ability of a MALE uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) to operate from short, unimproved dirt strips in simulated combat conditions.

Austere field performance and specifications

During the demonstration, the Mojave STOL required less than 200 meters for takeoff and landed within a 100-meter range. The aircraft is powered by a 450-horsepower turboprop engine and supports a payload capacity of up to one metric ton of mission equipment.

GA-ASI CEO Linden Blue stated the demonstration validated the aircraft’s ability to execute tactical missions representative of real battlefield requirements.

“Whether the user needs contested and austere battlefield operations, ISR, weapons delivery, Air-Launched Effects deployment, troop resupply, counter-UAS, or missions requiring short and unimproved roads for takeoff, our aircraft answer the bell,” Blue said.

Hanwha Aerospace partnership and production timeline

The September 16 flight builds on a history of joint development between the two aerospace manufacturers. In October 2025, Hanwha Aerospace and GA-ASI signed a contract to co-develop the Gray Eagle STOL (GE-STOL) variant. Prior to that agreement, the Mojave STOL completed a successful launch from the ROK Navy amphibious landing ship ROKS Dokdo in November 2024.

Hanwha Aerospace plans to establish research, development, and production infrastructure for the Mojave in South Korea. The company is targeting a domestic production share of more than 70 percent once the aircraft enters mass production, aiming to serve the ROK defense industry and expand into global markets.

Buhwan Lee, CEO nominee for Hanwha Aerospace, described the flight as an important milestone in delivering tangible results through the partnership. He noted the company will work closely with the ROK defense industry to develop uncrewed systems for future operating environments.

The production Mojave STOL is scheduled for its Critical Design Review (CDR) in November 2026. The first flight of the production model is expected in 2027.

AirPro News analysis

The successful operation of a MALE UAS from an unimproved dirt road highlights a shift in uncrewed military aviation toward runway independence. Traditional MALE platforms require pristine, lengthy runways, making them vulnerable to early strikes in a peer conflict. By proving the Mojave can operate from austere environments like tank maneuver roads, GA-ASI and Hanwha are directly addressing the geographic and tactical realities of the Korean Peninsula. The mountainous terrain of South Korea demands operational flexibility, and achieving a 70 percent domestic production share would secure the supply chain for the ROK military while positioning Hanwha as a primary exporter in the Asia-Pacific region.

Sources: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.