Joby, L3Harris to Develop Autonomous Hybrid VTOL for Defense Applications

August 6, 2025

Joby Aviation and L3Harris released this image of a conceptual autonomous hybrid electric VTOL aircraft for defense applications that could be developed under their new partnership. (Image: Joby Aviation)

Joby Aviation and L3Harris Technologies have announced a new partnership to explore the development of a new aircraft class for defense applications. The gas turbine hybrid vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft is being designed for low-altitude missions and offers the versatility of being optionally piloted, enabling both crewed and fully autonomous operations.

The collaboration leverages Joby’s existing commercial aircraft development program and leading manufacturing capabilities, combined with L3Harris’ proven expertise on platform missionization including sensors, effectors, communication and collaborative autonomy. Flight testing is expected to start this fall with the companies planning to perform operational demonstrations during government exercises in 2026.

“The next-generation of vertical lift technology enables long-range, crewed-uncrewed teaming for a range of missions,” said Jon Rambeau, President, Integrated Mission Systems, L3Harris. “We share a vision with Joby to deliver urgently-required innovation by missionizing VTOL aircraft for defense needs.”

JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO, Joby Aviation, added: “We have worked closely with the Department of Defense over the past decade to give them a front row seat to the development of our dual-purpose technologies, and we’re now ready to demonstrate and deploy it. Our country depends on companies like ours moving at pace, and we have the team, the technology and the platform to do just that.”

Joby is actively developing a gas turbine hybrid powertrain for its current S4 aircraft platform and has demonstrated aircraft-level autonomy following its acquisition of the autonomy division of Xwing in June 2024. It has previously demonstrated under government contract that its platform can be hybridized to deliver longer-ranges, showcasing an industry-first 561 mile hydrogen-electric hybrid flight in June 2024.

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