Joby, L3Harris team up to develop hybrid VTOL aircraft for defense missions

Questions and answers: 

What are Joby and L3Harris developing together? They are partnering to develop a gas turbine hybrid VTOL aircraft designed for low-altitude defense missions with optional piloting capability.

When will flight testing and demonstrations occur? Flight testing is expected to begin in fall 2025, with operational demonstrations planned for 2026 during government exercises.

What is the purpose of the hybrid VTOL platform? The aircraft is intended for flexible use in defense operations such as surveillance, logistics, and resupply, with the ability to operate crewed or autonomously.

SANTA CRUZ, Calif., - Joby Aviation of Santa Cruz, Calif., and L3Harris Technologies Inc. of Melbourne, Fla., have announced a collaboration to develop a new class of gas turbine hybrid vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft tailored for defense applications. Designed for low-altitude missions, the aircraft will support optionally piloted operations, enabling both crewed and autonomous use.

The effort builds on Joby’s ongoing development of its commercial S4 electric VTOL (eVTOL) aircraft, which features a tiltrotor design with six five-blade propellers and a distributed electric propulsion system for quiet operation. The S4 is designed to carry a pilot and four passengers, with a maximum speed of 200 mph and a range of up to 100 miles on battery power. Joby is now working to integrate a gas turbine hybrid powertrain to significantly extend that range.

In June 2024, the company demonstrated a 561-mile hydrogen-electric hybrid flight under a government contract, believed to be the longest flight of its kind. That same month, Joby acquired the autonomy division of Xwing and has since demonstrated aircraft-level autonomy with the S4 platform.

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L3Harris brings experience missionizing aircraft platforms with military-grade sensors, effectors, communication systems, and collaborative autonomy capabilities. The partners aim to field a flexible platform capable of supporting missions such as surveillance, logistics, and tactical resupply in denied or contested environments.

Flight testing of the hybrid VTOL demonstrator is expected to begin this fall, with operational demonstrations scheduled during government exercises in 2026.