Hanneke Weitering is a writer and editor with AIN covering advanced air mobility and new flight technologies. She became an aviation journalist and joined the AIN team in the summer of 2022 after reporting on spaceflight and astronomy for six years at Space.com. After earning a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, she moved to New York City to pursue a master’s degree in science, health, and environmental reporting at New York University&#039;s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute. She is now based in Seattle near Boeing Field and spends her free time exploring nature in the Pacific Northwest.

Science & Technology Editor

Hanneke Weitering

Customizable Software Provides Safety and Cost Saving Insights to Airlines and Bizav Operators alike

L3Harris Technologies is teaming up with eVTOL manufacturer Joby Aviation to develop an autonomous, hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft for defense applications, the companies announced August 1. Designed for low-altitude missions below 10,000 feet, the optionally piloted aircraft will feature a gas turbine hybrid powertrain.
Joby and L3Harris aim to begin flight testing the new aircraft in the fall, and next year the partners will conduct operational demonstrations during <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2024-08-26/us-air-force-trials-autonomous-flights-joby-reliable-robotics">government exercises</a>. They have not yet disclosed what the targeted range for the aircraft, which is intended to protect ground forces and critical assets.
While Joby is working to certify its piloted, four-passenger JAS4-1 eVTOL aircraft for commercial air taxi operations, it has also been collaborating with the U.S. Air Force since 2016 to explore defense applications for the all-electric vehicle. The Santa Cruz, California-based company has already delivered two eVTOL aircraft to Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California and plans to deliver two more to MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, this year.&nbsp;
“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 technology, and we’re now ready to demonstrate and deploy it,” said Joby founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt. “Our country depends on companies like ours moving at pace, and we have the team, the technology and the platform to do just that.”
L3Harris, a Florida-based defense contractor, brings to the table a wealth of expertise on platform missionization. The company develops and manufactures a variety of products for uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), including command-and-control systems, wireless communications technologies, sensors, effectors, and software.&nbsp;
“The next generation of vertical lift technology enables long-range, crewed-uncrewed teaming for a range of missions,” said Jon Rambeau, president of integrated mission systems at L3Harris. “We share a vision with Joby to deliver urgently required innovation by missionizing VTOL aircraft for defense applications.”
Last year, Joby began flying an experimental <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2024-07-11/joby-and-h2fly-fly-hydrogen-powered-evtol-aircraft">hydrogen-powered version of its aircraft</a> using a hydrogen fuel cell powertrain developed by its German subsidiary H2Fly. That aircraft completed numerous flights over 500 miles and achieved a maximum range of 561 miles—more than five times the range of Joby’s purely battery-electric model. Joby and L3Harris have not yet disclosed an anticipated range for the gas turbine hybrid model.&nbsp;
Meanwhile, Joby has also been quietly advancing autonomous flight technologies through <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2024-06-04/joby-aviation-acquires-autonomous-flight-pioneer-xwing">its Xwing subsidiary</a>, which the company acquired in June 2024. Last month Joby flew what is widely <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2025-07-14/joby-flies-hydrogen-powered-uas-9-hours">suspected to be a hydrogen-powered UAS</a> for more than nine hours straight during a test flight at the ​​Pendleton UAS Range near Eastern Oregon Regional Airport.&nbsp;
Joby is not the first U.S. eVTOL start-up to jump into the defense sector with plans for a hybrid, militarized version of their original air taxi design. In December, Archer Aviation announced it had partnered with defense tech company Anduril Industries <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2024-12-12/archer-plans-hybrid-vtol-aircraft-military-use">to develop a hybrid VTOL aircraft</a> that the partners intend to pitch to the U.S. Department of Defense. Archer has also previously delivered an example of its four-passenger Midnight eVTOL aircraft <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2024-08-16/archer-delivers-first-midnight-evtol-aircraft-us-air-force">to the Air Force</a> for evaluation.

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Joby and L3Harris Plan Hybrid VTOL Aircraft for Defense Missions

Operational flight demonstrations with a hybrid-electric vehicle could begin in 2026

L3Harris Technologies is teaming up with eVTOL manufacturer Joby Aviation to develop an autonomous, hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft for defense applications.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Aircraft features G3000 Prime avionics suite and upgraded cabin features.

TBM 980: Daher Has Unveiled The Latest Member of Its Aircraft Family

Kerry Lynch

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

Several changes were made in M&A, legal, sales, support, and engineering

Bombardier Reinforces Leadership Team

Charlotte Bailey

Scale model testing to help validate hydrogen-electric business jet design

Beyond Aero Completes First H2 Bizjet Wind Tunnel Tests

Global ops finish December up 4.2%, Argus reports

Frax’s ‘Banner Year’ Helps Global Bizav Ops Finish Strong

Manufacturing facility will be next to its Challenger production plant

Bombardier Launching CA$100M Expansion in Montreal

Issues regarding financing of aircraft; aviation insurance; tax issues for aircraft operators; new companies and people in the aviation financing and insurance industries.

Series B financing round raised $175 million for full-size demonstrator

JetZero Tops $1 Billion in Funding for Z4 ‘All-wing’ Airliner

Charles Alcock

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

In this article

Joby Aviation

L3 Harris Technologies

More In Aircraft

TBM 980: Daher Has Unveiled The Latest Member of Its Aircraft Family

Aircraft features G3000 Prime avionics suite and upgraded cabin features.

Bombardier Reinforces Leadership Team

Several changes were made in M&A, legal, sales, support, and engineering

Beyond Aero Completes First H2 Bizjet Wind Tunnel Tests

Scale model testing to help validate hydrogen-electric business jet design

Frax’s ‘Banner Year’ Helps Global Bizav Ops Finish Strong

Global ops finish December up 4.2%, Argus reports

Bombardier Launching CA$100M Expansion in Montreal

Manufacturing facility will be next to its Challenger production plant

JetZero Tops $1 Billion in Funding for Z4 ‘All-wing’ Airliner

Series B financing round raised $175 million for full-size demonstrator

Daher Refreshes TBM Turboprop Family with Model 980

Aircraft features G3000 Prime avionics suite and upgraded cabin features

Citation M2 Gen2 Enters Service with Garmin Autothrottle

Delivery follows FAA nod in October

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN