Joby Aims to Fly Hybrid Defense Variant This Year

Electric air taxi manufacturer teams with the defense contractor to build a new class of defense craft for low-altitude missions.

Jack Daleo

Friday, August 01, 2025 at 02:48 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Joby and L3Harris will develop a hybrid-powered, optionally piloted, vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft for defense. [Courtesy: Joby Aviation]

Key Takeaways:

Joby Aviation and L3Harris are collaborating to develop a new gas turbine hybrid, optionally piloted vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft specifically for defense missions.
The new variant, a modified S4 air taxi, is designed for "long-range, crewed-uncrewed teaming" in low-altitude operations, with flight testing planned for this fall and operational demonstrations by 2026.
Joby will build the aircraft, leveraging its existing defense contracts and autonomy advancements, while L3Harris will integrate sensors, communication systems, and provide expertise in collaborative autonomy.
This partnership aligns with the Department of Defense's increasing focus on autonomous and optionally piloted systems, placing Joby in a competitive landscape with other eVTOL developers pursuing military applications.

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Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi developer Joby Aviation and defense titan L3Harris are joining forces on a new, gas turbine hybrid, optionally piloted VTOL model.

According to Jon Rambeau, president of integrated mission systems for L3Harris, the autonomous variant—a modified S4 air taxi for which Joby said it is “actively developing” a hybrid powertrain—could enable “long-range, crewed-uncrewed teaming” for a range of low-altitude defense missions. Flight testing is planned for as early as this fall, with operational demonstrations on tap for 2026.