Joby Completes Landmark US Defence Exercise with Autonomous Flight Technology

Joby Aviation took part in an unprecedented demonstration of its autonomous flight technology. As a component of the Resolute Force Pacific (REFORPAC), a Department-Level Exercise led by Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), Joby successfully demonstrated and validated its SuperpilotTM autonomous flight technology over the Pacific Ocean and Hawaii. The exercise logged over 7,000 miles of autonomous operations across more than 40 flight hours.

The autonomous flights were managed from ground control stations located at various sites during the exercise, with primary coordination from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, over 3,000 miles distant. A safety pilot was onboard the aircraft to monitor the system's performance. As part of Joby's long-term strategy to develop dual-use technologies, Superpilot showcased its ability to provide an autonomous solution to the US government's urgent need for light intra-theatre airlift.

The US Department of Defence has proposed a budget allocation of $9.4 billion for FY26 to further develop autonomous and hybrid aircraft. The successful completion of the REFORPAC exercise positions Joby favorably for participation in forthcoming Department of Defence initiatives. Furthermore, collaboration with defence partners may provide valuable insights for incorporating autonomous capabilities into Joby’s commercial air taxi platform.

“The exercise demonstrated Superpilot’s ability to operate in complex, real-world scenarios with the precision and reliability demanded by the U.S. government,” said Greg Bowles, Chief Policy Officer at Joby. “This is a testament to our decade-long collaboration with the Department of Defence and a significant step toward deploying our dual-use technologies in the field.”

“AFWERX has partnered with Joby’s team for several years with increasingly complex development and demonstration efforts of autonomy to support contested logistics missions,” said Lt. Col. Jonathan Gilbert, AFWERX Prime division chief. “REFORPAC was an opportunity to demonstrate the technology in a realistic environment and highlight the potential impact of these autonomous systems. The lessons learned from this exercise participation are vital to guiding our focus as we continue development of affordable technologies that support the needs of our Airmen.”

The U.S. Air Force is presently facing the challenge of efficiently managing low-volume, high-urgency, and high-risk deliveries across vast operational theatres

. The REFORPAC exercise illustrated that a light cargo aircraft, equipped with Superpilot, can effectively meet this requirement, thereby enabling larger and more costly aircraft to be deployed for other missions.

Joby’s Superpilot, integrated into a Cessna Caravan 208 platform, was tasked with a variety of missions. Highlights include:

• Mission Readiness: Superpilot demonstrated the capability to execute rapid cargo deliveries, hub-and-spoke logistics, inter-island transport, dynamic retasking, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) profiles.

• Operational Versatility: Flights were successfully conducted in all classes of airspace (B, C, D and uncontrolled) and under both visual and instrument flight rules.

• Airlift Capabilities: Superpilot piloted a total of 7,342 miles over 43.7 hours. Within the exercise, the aircraft completed six sorties, flying for 14 hours covering 2,416 miles. The campaign also included a round-trip ferry flight of 4,925 miles, with Superpilot successfully handling a Pacific Ocean crossing, landing and taxi at destination airports.

  
  

In June 2024, Joby completed the acquisition of the autonomy division of Xwing, Inc., which includes Superpilot, to expedite the advancement of autonomous flight technology for both defence and commercial purposes.

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is the primary scientific research and development centre for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays a crucial role in leading the discovery, development, and integration of cost-effective warfighting technologies for air, space, and cyberspace forces. With personnel spread across nine technology domains and 40 additional operations globally, AFRL provides a comprehensive science and technology portfolio, ranging from fundamental research to advanced technology development.

As the innovation division of the Department of the Air Force (DAF) and a directorate within the Air Force Research Laboratory, AFWERX leverages advanced American innovation from small businesses and startups to tackle the DAF's most critical challenges. AFWERX operates with approximately 370 military, civilian, and contractor personnel across four hubs and sites, managing an annual budget of $1.4 billion. Since 2019, AFWERX has awarded over 10,400 contracts totalling more than $7.24 billion to enhance the U.S. defence industrial base and expedite the transition of technology to operational capability.