Joby Splits Commercial and Defense VTOL Projects With $500M Acquisition

Manufacturer says new defense unit will allow its core business to focus on commercializing an electric air taxi.

Jack Daleo

Thursday, August 13, 2026 at 09:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Pictured: Joby Aviation founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt (left) and Resonant Sciences co-founder and CEO J. Micah North. [Credit: Joby Aviation]

Key Takeaways:

Joby Aviation is acquiring Resonant Sciences for $500 million to establish a dedicated defense business and deepen its ties within the military sector.
Resonant Sciences specializes in low observability, RF sensing, and autonomy technologies, which will be integrated with Joby's existing defense projects and future autonomous systems.
This strategic acquisition allows Joby's core commercial division to focus primarily on certifying its S4 eVTOL air taxi, while the new defense arm pursues opportunities for next-generation autonomous aircraft.
The move aligns with a broader industry trend where eVTOL developers are increasingly focusing on defense applications to provide financial stability and advance technology during the lengthy commercialization process.

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Vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft developer Joby Aviation on Tuesday announced a $500 million acquisition that it said will deepen its ties in defense while accelerating commercialization of its electric VTOL (eVTOL) air taxi.

The company said its “definitive agreement” to acquire Dayton, Ohio-based Resonant Sciences for $500 million is expected to close in early 2027. The deal includes about $50 million in Joby common stock. Resonant will operate under the same name and retain its CEO and co-founder, J. Micah North, while Joby’s core business will narrow focus to certification of the S4—its civil, four-passenger electric aircraft announced back in 2020.