Joby Aviation and L3Harris Technologies announced on Wednesday that they successfully conducted their first test flight of an autonomous hybrid vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft. The companies aim to develop this technology for potential operational use by the Defense Department.
The electrically powered VTOL builds upon Joby’s prior work with a fully electric “air taxi” aircraft, which was delivered to the Air Force for testing in September 2023. The recent test flight took place on Friday at Joby’s facility in Marina, California, following Joby’s announcement in June 2023 about partnering with L3Harris for this project.
Joby indicated that L3Harris will modify the commercial version of the VTOL to enhance its suitability for defense applications. Modifications will include adding sensors, communications systems, and technologies that enable collaborative autonomous flight alongside manned aircraft, referred to as “loyal wingman” operations. Potential defense applications of the aircraft include logistical missions in contested environments and low-altitude support operations.
Jason Lambert, president of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance at L3Harris, emphasized the importance of unmanned systems complementing manned platforms on future battlefields. He noted that their partnership with Joby pushes forward missionized VTOL aircraft to meet defense requirements efficiently.
Joby’s innovative design allows the aircraft to take off and land vertically, enabling deployment from locations where traditional runways are not available. The VTOL utilizes Joby’s SuperPilot autonomous flight technology and features a hybrid turbine powertrain to enhance its range and payload capacity. Joby acquired the SuperPilot technology as part of its acquisition of Xwing Inc.’s autonomy division in June 2024.
Earlier this year, Joby participated in the military’s REFORPAC exercise in the Pacific region, showcasing the SuperPilot’s capabilities. A Cessna 208 aircraft equipped with SuperPilot flew autonomously for over 40 hours, covering more than 7,000 miles around Hawaii, with remote management from personnel more than 3,000 miles away at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam.
Joby aims to conduct operational demonstrations of the VTOL by 2026, showcasing its capability to perform government missions. Until then, the aircraft will undergo further ground and flight testing at the Marina facility.
JoeBen Bevirt, CEO and founder of Joby, stressed the urgency of delivering new technologies efficiently to American troops, praising their vertical integration approach to accelerate the process from concept to deployment.
Joby also noted that the developed technology could be marketed to civilian and commercial customers, with potential applications including expanded range air taxi services.
Stephen Losey serves as the air warfare reporter for Defense News and has a background in covering leadership, personnel issues, and military operations.
