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 gas turbine hybrid, optionally piloted VTOL aircraft for defense missions, with flight testing planned for Fall 2024 and operational demonstrations by 2026.
This new variant, a modified Joby S4, will feature a hybrid powertrain for extended range and integrate L3Harris's expertise in sensors, communication systems, and collaborative autonomy for crewed-uncrewed teaming.
The partnership aligns with Joby's strategic focus on the defense sector, building on its existing U.S. Air Force contracts and advancements in hybrid propulsion and autonomous flight to meet the military's growing demand for advanced unmanned systems.

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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.