POCHEON-SI, SOUTH KOREA — General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) and Hanwha Aerospace have completed the first battlefield-style short-field flight operations of the Mojave Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) uncrewed aircraft system in South Korea.
The demonstration was conducted during the 2026 Defense Drone Technology Exhibition at the Republic of Korea Army (ROK Army) 513th Aviation Battalion and the Seungjin Training Field in Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do.
Mojave Lands on Tank and Artillery Trail
Pilots operating from ground control stations first launched the Mojave from the conventional runway at the 513th Aviation Battalion. The aircraft then flew to the Seungjin Training Field, joined air operations and landed on a narrow, unpaved maneuver trail normally used by ROK Army tanks and artillery vehicles.
The Mojave successfully took off again from the same dirt trail, resumed its flight and returned to the 513th Aviation Battalion. The test demonstrated the aircraft’s ability to operate from austere locations instead of relying solely on conventional airfields.
The aircraft was fitted with dual weapon rails and inert payloads during the demonstration. GA-ASI said that in an actual combat situation, soldiers could refuel and re-arm the aircraft at a forward operating location before sending it back into the air.
Short-Field Performance
During the demonstration, the Mojave completed a takeoff run of less than 200 meters and a landing roll within 100 meters.
The aircraft is powered by a roughly 450-horsepower turboprop engine and uses high-lift devices that allow it to operate from surfaces of about 100 to 300 meters. It can carry up to one metric ton of mission equipment and is designed for missions including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, ground attack, logistics support and communications relay.
GA-ASI said no other aircraft with the Mojave’s endurance, range and payload has the same short-field capability.
GA-ASI-Hanwha Production Plans
The demonstration follows a 2025 agreement between GA-ASI and Hanwha Aerospace to co-develop and co-produce STOL uncrewed aircraft systems for customers including the ROK Ministry of National Defense, the United States and other international users.
GA-ASI CEO Linden Blue said the demonstration showed the Mojave’s ability to conduct tactical missions under conditions representative of battlefield requirements. Buhwan Lee, chief executive nominee of Hanwha Aerospace, described the flight as an important milestone and said the companies would continue working with South Korea’s defense industry to develop systems suited to future operating environments.
The Critical Design Review (CDR) for the production Mojave STOL is scheduled for November 2026, with the first flight of the production aircraft planned for 2027. Hanwha Aerospace also plans to establish research, development and production facilities in South Korea, with more than 70 percent of production expected to be domestic at the mass-production stage.
The Mojave STOL demonstrator is scheduled to travel to Changwon for Hanwha Aerospace’s Industry Day on September 21, 2026, where South Korean suppliers involved in the program are expected to participate.
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