Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Joby Demonstrates Autonomous Flight in Pacific Defense Exercise
Self-piloting Caravan aircraft joins Resolute Force Pacific exercise
Joby’s autonomous Cessna Caravan flies near Hawaii
Joby’s Superpilot-equipped Cessna 208 flies autonomously over the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii during the Resolute Force Pacific (REFORPAC) exercise, which was held from July 10 to August 8. © Joby Aviation

Joby Aviation successfully demonstrated its autonomous flight technology for the U.S. Department of Defense as part of the Resolute Force Pacific (REFORPAC) exercise led by the Pacific Air Forces, the company announced September 3. 

During the month-long exercise, which ran from July 10 to August 8, Joby logged 43.7 flight hours and 7,342 miles with a fully autonomous Cessna Caravan operating over the Pacific Ocean and Hawaii. The eVTOL aircraft manufacturer obtained the Caravan and its “Superpilot” autonomous flight control system through its June 2024 acquisition of Xwing.