General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and Hanwha Aerospace have demonstrated the Mojave STOL in what they described as the first battlefield short-field operations by a medium-altitude, long-endurance uncrewed aircraft in South Korea. The trial took place at the 2026 Defense Drone Technology Exhibition in Pocheon, north of Seoul, with the aircraft flying between the Republic of Korea Army’s 513th Aviation Battalion airfield and the Seungjin Training Field, then operating from a rough tank-and-artillery route.
The sortie was carried out in simulated combat conditions and involved take-off and landing from an austere surface rather than a conventional runway. GA-ASI and Hanwha configured the aircraft with dual weapon rails and inert payloads, underscoring the focus on battlefield utility rather than weapons testing. Reported performance included a take-off run of less than 200 metres and a landing roll in the 100-metre range.
The demonstration highlights a potential role for the Mojave in terrain where prepared runways are limited, including mountainous environments such as South Korea’s. It also extends the platform’s short take-off and landing portfolio beyond conventional test settings, while remaining a demonstration rather than an operational deployment.