Joby Aviation completed a 3,100-mile autonomous flight across the United States using a modified Cessna Caravan. The aircraft performed taxiing, takeoffs, navigation, and landings without human intervention, while being remotely supervised from California and South Carolina. A pilot remained on board solely for regulatory compliance.
This mission highlights the company's expansion beyond electric air taxis into broader autonomous applications. Joby intends to utilize its autonomy stack for medical transport, disaster response, and defense logistics. The aircraft is scheduled to return to the West Coast over the next two weeks with stops in Louisville and Salt Lake City.
The company is actively scaling its defense sector presence, supported by a $17 million contract from the Air Force via AFWERX. This strategy includes retrofitting conventional aircraft with its autonomy technology. Joby also plans to bring a regional airframe equipped with this stack to market for commercial freight and defense missions.
Joby's defense business was bolstered in August by the acquisition of Resonant Sciences for $500 million in cash and stock. This division focuses on radio frequency systems, turbine-electric and hydrogen-electric aircraft, and autonomy software. Additionally, Joby maintains a partnership with L3Harris Technologies to develop hybrid vertical takeoff aircraft.
