Joby Aviation, Inc. (NYSE: JOBY) and L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX) have announced a strategic collaboration to develop a next-generation, hybrid vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft tailored for defense applications.
The new aircraft will feature gas turbine hybrid propulsion and be optionally piloted, offering the flexibility of both crewed and fully autonomous operations, ideal for low-altitude military missions and tactical deployments.
By combining Joby’s advanced commercial VTOL platform and manufacturing capabilities with L3Harris’ deep expertise in platform missionization, including sensors, communications, and collaborative autonomy, the partnership aims to create a high-performance, multi-mission defense asset.
Flight testing is expected to begin in fall 2025, with operational demonstrations scheduled during U.S. 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 missionizing VTOL aircraft for defense needs.”
JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO, Joby Aviation, added: “We have worked closely with the Department of Defense 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 government contract that its platform can be hybridized to deliver longer-ranges, showcasing an industry-first 561 mile hydrogen-electric hybrid flight in June 2024.
