Air Force Boosts Joby Aviation Contract to $37 Million
The increase, issued through AFWERX, aims to advance Joby's autonomous flight technology for military airlift.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Electric Vehicles
The Air Force has raised its total commitment to Joby Aviation to nearly $37 million, with the ceiling on Joby's testing contract set at $50 million. A Joby spokeswoman said the move represents $17 million in new funding.
Why it matters
The contract expansion supports the development of autonomous flight technology intended to strengthen Air Force logistics resilience. It reflects continued federal investment in autonomous airlift capabilities.
The Air Force's total commitment to Joby is nearly $37 million, with a $50 million testing ceiling and $17 million in new funding, while the company's autonomy system has completed more than 400 fully autonomous flights. Further testing timelines and operational deployment dates were not disclosed.
The players
Joby Aviation
Joby Aviation is an electric aircraft company developing air taxi and autonomous flight technology, based in Santa Cruz, California, and operating a manufacturing facility in Dayton, Ohio.
AFWERX
AFWERX is the innovation arm of the U.S. Air Force that funds and accelerates the adoption of emerging technologies, headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.
The details
A Cessna Caravan equipped with Joby's technology flew from California to North Carolina's Outer Banks with no control inputs from the onboard safety pilot, covering autonomous taxiing, takeoffs, route navigation, and landings under remote supervision from up to 2,537 miles away. In August 2025, an aircraft in Hawaii was also operated remotely from Guam, nearly 4,000 miles away.
Timeline
August 2025: An aircraft in Hawaii was operated remotely from Guam, nearly 4,000 miles away.
First half of 2027: Joby's planned acquisition of Resonant Sciences is expected to close.
Roadmap
The contract expansion extends Joby's autonomy program, which has moved from ground testing to long-range remote flights. It places the company's aircraft technology within the broader push toward electric and autonomous vertical flight for both civilian and defense use.
The expansion signals continued federal investment in autonomous aircraft that could eventually affect how military and civilian cargo is moved. For now, the technology remains in testing and is not yet available for consumer use.
The takeaway
Autonomous flight is moving from short test hops toward long-range remote operations, a shift that could reshape logistics over time. Readers following electric aviation should watch for testing milestones and the pending Resonant Sciences acquisition.
What happens next
Joby is scheduled to report third quarter earnings later on Wednesday, and its planned acquisition of Resonant Sciences is expected to close in the first half of 2027.
Further reading
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