Joby Aviation and defense contractor L3Harris to test autonomous hybrid aircraft

Joby Aviation, primarily recognized for its electric air taxi developments, is embarking on a new venture that aligns with its extensive collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense. Recently, the company announced a partnership with defense contractor L3Harris Technologies to investigate the creation of a new category of aircraft: a gas-turbine hybrid vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft capable of autonomous flight. This innovative VTOL will leverage Joby’s existing S4 aircraft platform. While the company has concentrated on an all-electric powertrain for the S4, it previously showcased a hydrogen-electric hybrid variant that successfully flew 521 miles—more than double the distance of its battery-powered prototype. The partnership with L3Harris is exploratory, but both companies are optimistic that subsequent flight tests and operational demonstrations may pave the way for a contract with the Department of Defense, with testing set to commence this fall and operational showcases anticipated by 2026. Joby has dedicated years to achieving Type 1 certification from the Federal Aviation Administration for its all-electric VTOL aircraft, intended for urban passenger transport. Their long-standing cooperation with the DoD has provided valuable insights into the requirements for military applications. Paul Sciarra, Joby’s executive chairman, emphasized the critical need for range in their designs, stating, "We knew we had to make that shift." In addition to range, demonstrating the integration of the aircraft with appropriate sensors, autonomy, and communication systems is crucial for military use, according to Sciarra. "We have two choices: either build a bunch of this stuff ourselves, or find an incredible partner that already has a deep understanding of those use cases and a ton of proven technology," he explained. L3Harris is poised to fulfill that role. Jon Rambeau, president of Integrated Mission Systems at L3Harris, highlighted that this new vertical lift technology will facilitate long-range missions that may involve both crewed and uncrewed operations, enhancing capabilities for low-altitude support missions such as contested logistics, electronic warfare, and counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS).