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Air Force Tests Self-Flying Cessnas

Cessna aircraft equipped with Joby Aviation and Reliable Robotics’ autonomy systems fly more than 6,600 miles over the course of a five-day exercise.

Monday, August 26, 2024 at 04:55 PM ET

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A Cessna 208B Grand Caravan equipped with autonomy software from Joby Aviation takes off from Edwards Air Force Base in California. [Courtesy: U.S. Air Force/Matthew Clouse]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. Air Force is actively evaluating autonomous flight technology from Joby Aviation and Reliable Robotics for defense applications, specifically to enhance its Agile Combat Employment concept.
During the Agile Flag 24-3 exercise, autonomous Cessna Caravans demonstrated efficient, low-cost cargo delivery capabilities, completing 47 flights covering over 6,600 miles with minimal ground infrastructure.
This technology offers significant benefits, including drastically reduced operating costs compared to traditional cargo aircraft, faster transport of critical parts, improved logistics in contested environments, and the ability to operate from austere or damaged runways.

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The U.S. Air Force is eyeing defense applications for autonomous flight technology being developed by a pair of private companies.

Earlier this month, Joby Aviation and Reliable Robotics operated self-flying Cessna 208B Grand Caravans during the U.S. Air Force’s Agile Flag 24-3 exercise at Mojave Air and Space Port (KMHV) in California. The goal of the five-day campaign was to weigh how the technology could support the Air Force’s Agile Combat Employment concept, which it describes as a “proactive and reactive operational scheme…to increase resiliency and survivability while generating combat power.”

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.