Joby Aviation could soon be the first eVTOL air taxi developer to operate its aircraft on U.S. Air Force bases. The California-based company announced Tuesday that it has received a $55 million contract extension from the USAF’s Agility Prime program, bringing the total potential value of its defense contracts up to $131 million.
As part of the new deal, Joby is planning to deliver up to nine of its five-seat air taxis to USAF bases. The first two are expected to arrive at Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California by early 2024. Joby says the learnings from its work with the Department of Defense will help the company build momentum as it gears up for the launch of its commercial air taxi services in 2025.
Last week, four Air Force test pilots had the opportunity to remotely pilot Joby’s eVTOL aircraft during flight tests at the company’s manufacturing facility in Marina, California. According to Joby, this was the first time that USAF pilots flew any eVTOL aircraft as the sole pilot-in-command throughout the full flight envelope, including a flight during which the aircraft transitions from vertical lift supplied by its tilting propellers to fully wing-borne, horizontal flight. Achieving a transition flight is a huge milestone for any eVTOL developer, and Joby became the first company to accomplish this with an uncrewed, remotely piloted prototype in 2017.
“This next step of getting Air Force pilots trained and operating Joby aircraft at an Air Force installation is an incredibly important milestone for the program, providing key insights to actual operations and use-case validation for advanced air mobility aircraft,” said Lt. Col. Tom Meagher, who leads the USAF’s Afwerx research and development program.
Joby has been working with the Department of Defense for more than five years. In 2020, the USAF granted Joby its first airworthiness certification through the Agility Prime program, marking the first time an eVTOL aircraft was approved for use by the military branch. Last year, the Marine Corps also partnered with Joby to explore non-combat use cases for its eVTOL aircraft, including cargo resupply missions, emergency medical response applications, and relocation of personnel. According to Joby, the Army and Navy have also expressed interest in using Joby’s eVTOL aircraft.
With FAA type certification anticipated in 2024, Joby is planning to launch its commercial air taxi services in the U.S. in 2025. The company has partnered with Delta Air Lines to transport passengers to and from airports, with the first routes launching in New York City and Los Angeles. Although Joby is not yet transporting paying customers, the company says it has already begun generating some revenue through its Agility Prime contracts.
