Joby Aviation has secured additional US Air Force funding to advance its autonomous flight technology for military logistics, bringing the service’s total commitment to nearly $37 million
The latest funding will support further development of the company’s autonomy software and expanded operational testing in the Pacific.
The air force is currently evaluating the technology for sustained autonomous logistics missions, including cargo transport in contested environments.
“We designed this system to be platform-agnostic, letting us quickly bring advanced autonomy to a wide range of high-utility aircraft,” Joby CEO JoeBen Bevirt said. “This funding will accelerate our path to sustained uncrewed operations, delivering a single software solution that solves critical logistics challenges for both the US military and cargo industries.”
The announcement follows Joby’s recent coast-to-coast demonstration with a Cessna Caravan equipped with its autonomous flight system.
As part of the company’s 2026 Electric Skies campaign, the aircraft flew from Concord, California, to North Carolina’s Outer Banks without control inputs from its onboard safety pilot.
During the multi-leg tour, Joby said the system handled autonomous taxiing, takeoffs, route navigation, and landings, with remote supervision from distances of up to 2,537 miles (4,082 kilometers). The flights covered 24 states.
Joby Expands Its Aviation and Defense Portfolio
Joby is known for developing all-electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft for passenger air taxi services. Its work has also expanded into autonomous flight, cargo transport, and defense applications.
In 2024, the company acquired the autonomy division of Xwing, gaining technology developed for autonomous operations of conventional aircraft.
Joby said the system has since completed more than 400 fully autonomous flights.
Its military work has included demonstrations during the US Air Force’s Agile Flag readiness exercise, where the autonomous aircraft reportedly delivered replacement parts 24 hours faster than conventional logistics methods.
The company is also preparing to expand its defense business through a planned acquisition of Resonant Sciences, a defense tech company specializing in radio-frequency sensing, mission systems, and low-observability aircraft design.
