- Flight testing expected to start in fall 2025, with operational demonstrations expected in 2026
- New aircraft class could be used for a wide range of low-altitude support use-cases
- Gas turbine hybrid vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft offers the versatility of being optionally piloted, enabling both crewed and fully autonomous operations
Joby Aviation, Inc. (NYSE: JOBY) and L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX) have announced they are exploring opportunities to develop a new aircraft class for defence applications. The gas turbine hybrid vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft is designed for low-altitude missions and offers the versatility of being optionally piloted, enabling both crewed and fully autonomous operations.
The collaboration leverages Joby’s existing commercial aircraft development program and leading manufacturing capabilities, combined with L3Harris’ proven expertise on platform missionization, including sensors, effectors, communication and collaborative autonomy. Flight testing is expected to start this fall, with the companies planning to perform operational demonstrations during government exercises in 2026.
“The next-generation of vertical lift technology enables long-range, crewed-uncrewed teaming for a range of missions,” said Jon Rambeau, President, Integrated Mission Systems, L3Harris. “We share a vision with Joby to deliver urgently required innovation by missionising VTOL aircraft for defence needs.”
JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO, Joby Aviation, added: “We have worked closely with the Department of Defence over the past decade to give them a front row seat to the development of our dual-purpose technologies, and we’re now ready to demonstrate and deploy it. Our country depends on companies like ours moving at pace, and we have the team, the technology and the platform to do just that.”
Joby is actively developing a gas turbine hybrid powertrain for its current S4 aircraft platform and has demonstrated aircraft-level autonomy following its acquisition of the autonomy division of Xwing in June 2024. It has previously demonstrated under a government contract that its platform can be hybridised to deliver longer ranges, showcasing an industry-first 561-mile hydrogen-electric hybrid flight in June 2024.
