SAN DIEGO – 13 November 2024 – Common Atomics Aeronautical Techniques, Inc. (GA-ASI) logged one other aviation milestone on Nov. 12, 2024, when its Grey Eagle STOL plane took off from a South Korean warship and landed at a floor base – the first-ever such mission for an plane of this sort. Working with our GA-ASI’s in-country associate, Hanwha Aerospace, Grey Eagle STOL launched from the South Korean navy’s amphibious touchdown ship Dokdo underway at sea off the coast of Pohang, South Korea. The Unmanned Plane System (UAS) then flew to Pohang Navy Airfield and landed usually.
Grey Eagle STOL – which stands for brief takeoff and touchdown – is the one medium-altitude, long-endurance plane of its type with the flexibility to function from large-deck warships reminiscent of amphibious ships and plane carriers, in addition to brief and unimproved fields on land. The take a look at with the South Korean navy additional validates the plane’s functionality and flexibility.
“We applaud the South Korean navy for its foresight in inspecting the distinctive functionality of GE STOL for its fleet. This demonstration illustrates the flexibility of the GE STOL to soundly function on many forms of aircraft-capable ships, which opens myriad new methods our allies can use this UAS to help multi-domain naval operations,” mentioned GA-ASI CEO Linden Blue.
Hanwha Aerospace is engaged with Common Atomics to help nationwide protection with confirmed, state-of-the-art know-how suited to a multi-domain warfare setting, contributing to international safety alongside allied nations in response to quickly rising threats.
“The demonstration is a vital step in verifying how the GE STOL can contribute to protection capabilities, and I’m honored to witness this alongside the Republic of Korea Navy, to whom I prolong my deepest gratitude for conducting the take a look at,” mentioned Hanwha Aerospace CEO and President Jae-il Son. “Hanwha is absolutely dedicated to creating daring investments, fostering collaboration, and offering steadfast help within the Unmanned Aerial Automobile (UAV) enterprise.”
The Ministry of Nationwide Protection for the Republic of Korea is initially evaluating GE STOL for its means to fulfill its rising navy necessities. South Korean navy, military and different officers had been requested to guage Grey Eagle STOL and supported the take a look at.
“The demo highlighted the flexibility of STOL aboard a warship, within the Dokdo, designed not for fixed-wing plane however solely for helicopters. Grey Eagle STOL’s flight proves that navies can add vital new functionality with out expensive main modifications to their current warships,” mentioned South Korean Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Yang Yong-mo.
Grey Eagle STOL is extremely frequent with the basic Grey Eagle plane, substituting a distinct engine, wings, management surfaces and touchdown gear. Grey Eagle STOL is Common Atomics’ identify for the manufacturing variant of the historic plane demonstrator often known as Mojave.
In November 2023, GA-ASI and Mojave carried out an illustration of STOL takeoff and return touchdown aboard an plane provider in an occasion with the UK Royal Navy’s HMS Prince of Wales, which is smaller than a typical U.S. plane provider at 932 ft lengthy (284m) and 240 ft broad (73m). The Dokdo class is significantly smaller than the Prince of Wales, solely 653 ft lengthy (199m) and 102 ft broad (31m).
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