Joby acquires Resonant Sciences for $500 million and boosts its defense business

Joby Aviation announced the acquisition of Resonant Sciences, the defense firm based in Dayton, Ohio, in a deal valued at $500 million. With this move, the electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft company aims to expand its presence within the military industrial complex.

The agreement will be financed with $450 million in cash and $50 million in stock. It is expected to close in early 2027. From that point on, Resonant will operate as Joby's division dedicated exclusively to defense. Meanwhile, the commercial unit will continue to focus on air taxis, which are anticipated to launch later this year.

The operation reflects an increasingly clear trend in the young electric aviation industry: looking beyond urban taxis to find new sources of revenue. Rising costs and the lengthy regulatory approval process push commercial success further into the future. For many companies, military contracts represent too attractive an opportunity to pass up.

Resonant Sciences, founded in 2015 and with around 250 employees, develops systems that allow aircraft to see, communicate, and operate in complex environments, including conflict scenarios. Its sensors, antennas, and signal processing technologies facilitate secure communications and protect against interference, while its expertise in low observability helps make aircraft harder to detect.

Combination of Technical Capabilities

Resonant's products are already qualified on more than 20 air platforms, both commercial and defense. Much of its staff holds military security clearances due to the classified nature of part of its work. Joby claims that the acquisition will allow it to combine its own propulsion and autonomy technology with Resonant's radiofrequency capabilities, sensors, and mission systems.

The company states that it intends to design and manufacture stealth aircraft based on these newly incorporated systems. Joby has had ties to the military since 2016 when it participated in a project with the Defense Innovation Unit of the U.S. Department of Defense. In 2020, it became the first eVTOL developer to obtain airworthiness approval and a flight authorization certificate from the U.S. Air Force for official testing. In 2023, it delivered its first aircraft to Edwards Air Force Base for testing.

Electric aircraft developers are increasingly looking toward military projects to sustain a business that requires significant capital. Air taxis still lack the necessary government approvals in most markets to begin commercial service and generate more stable revenue. As a result, these companies, including Joby, frequently report high quarterly losses.

Last week, Joby reported a net loss of $245.4 million in the second quarter of 2026 on revenues of $38.6 million. Securing more military contracts is becoming as relevant as achieving the launch of a viable air taxi service. Last month, Archer Aviation, one of its main competitors, unveiled a new aircraft developed alongside defense technology firm Anduril.