Gray Eagle UAS makes first ship-to-shore journey
The trial took place on 12 November. (Photo: RoK Navy)
The Gray Eagle short take-off and landing (STOL) UAS has a different engine, wings, control surfaces and landing gear to earlier Gray Eagles, and is a production variant of the demonstrator Mojave UAS.
For the first time, a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) UAS has conducted a launch from an amphibious landing ship and landed at a ground base.
The General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) Gray Eagle STOL UAS took off from the South Korean Navy’s (ROK’s) amphibious landing ship Dokdo off the coast of Pohang, South Korea and landed at Pohang Navy Airfield.
Gray Eagle STOL is highly common with the classic Gray Eagle aircraft and is the production variant of the Mojave demonstrator.
The Republic of Korea Ministry of National Defense is initially evaluating Gray Eagle STOL as part of a discovery for emerging military requirements and navy, army and other officials evaluated and supported the test.
Admiral Yang Yong-mo, chief of naval operations for South Korea, said the flight was an important step in validating a concept of operations.
“The demonstration highlighted the versatility of STOL aboard a warship, specifically the Dokdo, designed not for fixed-wing aircraft but solely for helicopters,” Yong-mo said.
“Gray Eagle STOL’s flight proves that navies can add significant new capability without costly major modifications to their existing warships.”
In November last year Mojave performed a STOL take-off and return landing from the UK Royal Navy’s HMS Prince of Wales, which is smaller than a typical US aircraft carrier at 284m long and 73m wide. The Dokdo class is considerably smaller at 199m and 31m, respectively.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Dokdo Class Landing Platform Helicopter Dock
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![USAF’s T-7A Red Hawk programme progresses with low-rate production to start in 2026]()
USAF’s T-7A Red Hawk programme progresses with low-rate production to start in 2026
The T-7A Red Hawk advanced trainer for the US Air Force reaching Milestone C is the first step towards production for the first batch of 14 aircraft, with training expected to start by 2028.
-
![“A dominant force”: empowering Europe’s airborne ISR in a new era]()
“A dominant force”: empowering Europe’s airborne ISR in a new era
European militaries face a new security landscape, with the proliferation of drones, theatre ballistic missiles and other threats boosting requirements for airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and related systems. For L3Harris, missionised business jets are central to meeting these needs, providing capability and flexibility in a cost-effective package.
-
![Japan’s Terra Drone expands Ukrainian ties to break into global defence market]()
Japan’s Terra Drone expands Ukrainian ties to break into global defence market
Following its investment into WinnyLab, Terra Drone unveiled a new long-range fixed-wing addition to its interceptor drone portfolio as it seeks to bring combat-proven technology back to Japan and expand into global export markets.
-
![April air forces review: Next-gen platform push ties in with fleet modernisation plans]()
April air forces review: Next-gen platform push ties in with fleet modernisation plans
Countries releasing their spending budgets over the past month have placed an emphasis on advancing next-generation crewed programmes as well as upgrades and expansion plans for air combat and aerial refuelling capabilities.
