U.S.’s GA-ASI And South Korea Team Up To Build Next-Gen Military Drones For Global Use

A major new partnership between companies in the United States and South Korea has been announced as both aim to improve their military drone technology. American drone maker General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) and South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace have officially joined forces to develop and build advanced unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) that will be sold worldwide.

A Test Flight That Changed Everything

The deal comes after a successful test flight in late 2024, when the two companies flew the MQ-1C Gray Eagle STOL drone from a South Korean Navy ship. The drone launched from the ROKS Dokdo . It did not need any special take-off or landing gear, it landed over 200km away. That test proved these drones can be used on naval ships even while they’re moving or in challenging situations.

Why The Gray Eagle STOL Matters For Modern Warfare

This makes the Gray Eagle STOL a big deal in modern warfare, where flexibility and speed matter more than ever. The drone can operate from beaches or roads as well as other locations. It offers intelligence and strike capabilities wherever they’re needed. It’s already been tested in different locations, including on the British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales and in live-fire drills in Arizona.

Global Timing: Drones Take Center Stage

Drones are now playing a major role in global military operations, like in Ukraine, the Indo-Pacific, and the Red Sea. That’s why this new partnership could prove to come at a perfect time. Hanwha is backing the project in a big way, investing over 300 billion KRW (that equates to about $203 million USD). They’re building new production facilities and even setting up new supply chains across both countries.

The economic boost from this project is expected to be huge. Additionally, nearly 10,000 jobs are projected over the next 10 years. 500 of those will be in the U.S.

GA-ASI CEO, Linden Blue, called the partnership a major step forward, saying it’s a great example of international cooperation. Hanwha Group’s Vice Chairman Dong Kwan Kim added that “through our collaboration with GA-ASI, we aim to strengthen sovereign defense capabilities, expand Korea’s presence in the global UAS market, and contribute to a more robust ROK-U.S. alliance.”

These two companies will be hoping that the collaboration proves to be efficient and agile. It will also provide a quick response to the demand for more impressive drone technology.