According to the U.S. War Zone (TWZ) website on October 14, the U.S. General Atomic Aviation Systems Company (GA-ASI) will cooperate with South Korea’s Korean Aerospace Corporation to jointly develop and manufacture the “Grey Eagle” short-range take-off drone.
GA-ASI and Hanwha Airlines held a formal signing ceremony at the main annual seminar of the American Army Association (AUSA) on the same day. In addition to the "Grey Eagle", Hanwha will also produce the "Mojave" short take-off and landing drone, a demonstrator of the "Grey Eagle". The "Mojave" ship-based short take-off and landing drone has been flying for many years, taking off and landing multiple times on "flat" ships including the South Korean amphibious assault ship.
The "Gray Eagle" is a ship-based short take-off and landing modification of GA-ASI's famous integrated surveillance and attack UAV MQ-1C "Reaper" UAV. The core goal of the Gray Eagle STOL system is to enable it to operate in remote or harsh areas, with rough runways and limited logistical support.
GA-ASI said the drone would be able to take off in the field environment, including ground roads, open fields, beaches and parking spaces. This would allow him to follow the C-130 transport aircraft to accompany the U.S. military for rapid maneuvering.
According to the new joint plan, GA-ASI and Hanwha plan to jointly manufacture the latest carrier-based version of the "Grey Eagle", with the first flight date initially set for 2027. At the same time, the two companies will each build a production line to provide Grey Eagle STOL drones to customers in the United States and South Korea, as well as around the world, which will save the cost of drones. The first batch will be delivered to customers in 2028.
GA-ASI President David R. Alexander said,"GA-ASI and Hanwha are committed to investing in this project and building development and production capacity in Korea. We will leverage the expertise of both companies to rapidly bring the Greyhawk STOL system to customers worldwide."
GA-ASI said in a statement: “This milestone agreement marks a new phase of U.S.-Korean defence cooperation that goes beyond traditional alliance structures, provides the next generation of unrelated drone solutions, maximizes the choice of commanders in the face of changing mission demands.”
According to the plans of the two countries, Hanwha of South Korea will be responsible for the assembly and manufacturing of the short take-off and landing type "Gray Eagle" drone, and GA-ASI will be responsible for the final integration. Meanwhile, GA-ASI will continue to produce other "Grey Eagle" models at its San Diego, California plant.
GA-ASI said the new partnership "provides the fastest pathway with the lowest risk to generating operational capabilities."
Sun Jian, General Manager of HUAWEI, said: “The joint production of drones in South Korea and the United States will create jobs and help ensure that HUAWEI’s relevant fields of talent, and will also foster the domestic (Korean) drone industry ecosystem.HUAWEI will be based on fighter engine, radar, aviation electronics equipment and so on, becoming a comprehensive drone enterprise that can complete all aspects from design to production, maintenance and so on.”
"Gray Eagle" will also become an important member of the UAV fleet of the Korean National Army. At present, South Korea has a variety of types of Israeli drones, but these drones cannot meet the drone needs of the Korean armed forces.
In addition to making up for the drone fleet of the army and air force, South Korea also plans to carry its amphibious assault ships with "grey eagles". Last year, the Mojave demonstrator took off from the South Korean Navy's amphibious landing ship USS Dokdo and conducted a demonstration near the coast of Pohang, South Korea.
The "Grey Eagle" UAV will greatly increase its early warning and detection capabilities, including the "Hawkeye" synthetic aperture radar, which can detect and track ground targets 80 kilometers away and sea targets 200 kilometers away. After being equipped with the "Grey Eagle", the large flat-deck ships of the South Korean Navy will have better strike and reconnaissance capabilities.