In a first-of-its-kind operation, South Korea has launched a General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Gray Eagle uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) from one of the country’s naval ships.
The sortie, which took place on 12 November, saw a short take-off and landing (STOL) variant of the Gray Eagle launch from the South Korean navy’s Dokdo flattop amphibious assault ship off the coast of Pohang and land at a naval base some 170 miles (273km) away.
The Dokdo is similar to the US Navy’s America-class amphibious assault ships, or Japan’s Izumo-class vessels – essentially a type of light aircraft carrier. While those ships are capable of supporting both rotary-wing aircraft and short take-off and vertical landing jump jets like the Lockheed Martin F-35B, the Dokdo is primarily a helicopter carrier.
Pour en savoir plus : South Korea launches short take-off Gray Eagle UAV from amphibious assault ship