California Startup Flies Military Version of Its Air Taxi for the First Time

Just three months after announcing a partnership with defense contractor L3Harris, Joby Aviation flew the new hybrid version of its flying car concept that’s been repurposed for military use.

The first flight of the turbine electric, autonomous vertical take-off and landing aircraft took place on November 7 at the company’s facility in Marina, California, Joby announced on Thursday. The California startup is known for developing all-electric air taxis for short, yet pricey, trips in places like Dubai and Saudi Arabia. Its new hybrid aircraft, however, is geared toward defense customers.

“It’s imperative that we find ways to deliver new technology into the hands of American troops more quickly and cost-efficiently than we have in the past,†JoeBen Bevirt, CEO and founder of Joby, said in a statement.

Prepare for takeoff

The new aircraft builds on Joby’s existing technology for its air taxis, integrating a hybrid turbine powertrain with the company’s SuperPilot autonomous flight system. That way, the new aircraft is designed to carry heavier payloads and travel longer distances than the current battery-powered version.

Through its partnership with L3Harris, Joby will also add sensors, surveillance, communications systems, and mission equipment onto the aircraft so that its vehicle can be repurposed for use by the military.

“The magic of dual-use technology is that it creates value in both directions,†Bevirt said. “By building on our proven technology stack, our partners can rapidly deliver new capabilities for the Department of War while we benefit from advancing the maturity of our hybrid and autonomous systems.â€

Joby is hoping to cash in on a growing demand by the U.S. military for autonomous and hybrid aircraft. The company noted that the government has allocated roughly $9 billion in the 2026 budget to go toward developing next-generation aircraft.

“The next generation of vertical lift technology enables long-range, crewed-uncrewed teaming for a range of missions,†Jon Rambeau, president of Integrated Mission Systems at L3Harris, said in a statement. “We share a vision with Joby to deliver urgently-required innovation by missionizing VTOL aircraft for defense applications.â€

Joby will continue to test its new aircraft on the ground and in flight, and the company is hoping to begin operational demonstrations with government customers by next year.