Overview
- Joby completed the first flight of its turbine‑electric, autonomous VTOL demonstrator on Nov. 7 at its Marina, California, facility.
- The aircraft builds on the S4 platform by adding a turbine generator and Joby’s SuperPilot autonomy to boost range and payload beyond the all‑electric model.
- Through a partnership with L3Harris, the platform is being missionized for defense roles including contested logistics, low‑altitude support, and loyal‑wingman operations.
- Joby says continued ground and flight testing will lead to operational demonstrations with U.S. government customers in 2026 after moving from concept to flight in roughly three months.
- Separately, Joby signed an MoU with Saudi Arabia’s GACA to accelerate electric air taxi deployment in the Kingdom using FAA certification standards as a baseline.