General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has published a YouTube video showing its Mojave short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft touching down on a rough maneuver trail at a Republic of Korea (ROK) Army training range, then taking off again to continue its mission. The footage follows the company’s Sept. 16 press release on the demonstration, which it conducted with Hanwha Aerospace.
The release identifies the landing site as a tank trail at the Seungjin Training Field in Pocheon-si, in Gyeonggi Province, which it describes as being used mostly by ROK Army tanks and artillery vehicles.
Pilots at ground control stations flew the aircraft from a conventional runway at the ROK Army 513th Aviation Battalion to the Seungjin Training Field, where it joined air operations. It then landed on the maneuver trail, took off again, resumed operations and returned to the 513th.
The Mojave carried dual weapon rails and inert payloads. GA-ASI said that in a real combat situation, soldiers could have refueled and re-armed the aircraft while it sat on the ground at the range. The company also said no other aircraft with Mojave’s endurance, range or payload can do this. The release does not give takeoff or landing distances, the aircraft’s weight or fuel state during the landing, or the surface conditions on the day, so those details are not yet public.
GA-ASI announced in 2025 that it would work with Hanwha Aerospace, the ROK’s largest aerospace and defense company, to co-develop and co-produce STOL-capable uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) for customers worldwide. Those include the ROK Ministry of National Defense and the United States Department of War. Hanwha is better known for land systems such as the K9 Self-Propelled Howitzer and the Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicle, which gives it existing ties to the ground forces that would operate near the kind of terrain shown in the demonstration.
Buhwan Lee, the CEO nominee of Hanwha Aerospace, said the demonstration marks an important milestone in producing tangible results from the partnership. He said Hanwha will work closely with the ROK defense industry to develop unmanned systems for future operating environments and to expand its presence in global markets.
GA-ASI CEO Linden Blue said the demonstration showed Mojave’s ability to perform tactical missions that reflect real battlefield requirements. He listed contested and austere operations, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, weapons delivery, Air-Launched Effects deployment, troop resupply and counter-UAS work as possible uses, along with missions that depend on short, unimproved roads for takeoff.
GA-ASI expects a Critical Design Review (CDR) for a production Mojave STOL in November, with first flight planned for 2027.
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