Joby Aviation’s hybrid aircraft.
Provided by: Joby Aviation
joby aviation Three months after the company partnered with a government contractor, it completed its first test flight of a hybrid defense aircraft. L3 Harris on the project.
The company announced Thursday that the launch was successful on Nov. 7 at Joby’s facility in Marina, California. Chairman Paul Sciara told CNBC that the flight demonstrates Joby’s ability to move quickly from “concept to demonstration” to meet growing military needs.
Joby and L3Harris first announced in August that they were collaborating on developing military aircraft with autonomous and piloting capabilities.
Under the Trump administration, the U.S. government has aggressively invested in new autonomous artificial intelligence and defense technologies to improve military capabilities. The president also outlined plans for a $175 billion “Golden Dome” missile defense system.
“The defense landscape is really changing,” Shara said, adding that “that’s what’s happening in conflicts like the Russia-Ukraine war, where commercial technology is rapidly being introduced.”
Joby is widely known for its electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, which is currently competing to receive certification from the Federal Aviation Administration to begin commercial flights. The company’s stock price has doubled this year.
Joby is betting big on Saudi Arabia to be a major testing ground for its technology, signing a deal this week to bring its air taxis to the Middle Eastern country. The company is also working with the United Arab Emirates.
The market was boosted by an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in June creating an eVTOL testing program.
archer aviationhas been named the official air taxi provider for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, and its stock price is up 86% over last year. AmazonBacked by Beta Technologies, the company went public on the New York Stock Exchange earlier this month.
Shara said the L3Harris-developed aircraft is currently being built for defense companies, but civilian customers could also benefit from the technology as Joby develops and tests it.
“We see a huge opportunity for a hybrid version of this aircraft in a commercial context that can compete with today’s single-aisle regional transport,” he said.
Joby plans to allow government agencies and ministries to begin testing the vehicle next year.
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