Aircraft
Joby To Buy Dayton Defense Firm in $500 Million Deal
Resonant Sciences will absorb Joby’s hybrid and autonomy programs
JoeBen Bevirt and J. Micah North stand outside Resonant’s headquarters
Joby founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt (left) and Resonant Sciences co-founder and CEO J. Micah North stand outside Resonant’s headquarters in Dayton, Ohio. © Joby Aviation

Joby Aviation is buying Ohio-based defense contractor Resonant Sciences for roughly $500 million and consolidating its own military programs into the acquired business unit, the eVTOL manufacturer announced on Tuesday. The arrangement turns a decade of Joby’s defense side projects into a standalone business with its own leadership, facilities, and classified customer base.

Resonant Sciences employs about 250 people and builds radio frequency sensors, antennas, radomes, and mission systems for U.S. national security customers. It will keep its name after the deal closes, and co-founder and CEO J. Micah North will stay on to lead the unit. Joby’s commercial team, meanwhile, keeps its focus on certifying and building the piloted, four-passenger JAS4-1 eVTOL air taxi.

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