Joby Aviation builds out defense business with $500M acquisition
Joby Aviation is acquiring Resonant Sciences for $500 million to expand its defense-focused business, including the development of autonomous and hybrid-electric aircraft. This move allows Joby to leverage Resonant's sensor technology while focusing its core team on electric air taxi certification.
Why it matters
The acquisition signals a strategic pivot for urban air mobility companies to diversify revenue streams through government defense contracts.
Joby Aviation reached an agreement to acquire Resonant Sciences for $500 million in cash and stock, according to a regulatory filing posted Tuesday. This is the electric air taxi developer’s latest move to push deeper into the defense sector.
Ohio-based Resonant Sciences, which makes radio frequency and sensor systems, will become a dedicated defense business under Joby. Resonant Sciences’ co-founder and CEO J. Micah North will lead this new division, which will absorb Joby’s defense projects, including the development of a turbine-electric and hydrogen-electric aircraft, and autonomy technology stack.
The new defense division will allow the rest of Joby Aviation to focus on certifying, manufacturing, and launching its electric air taxi, the company said.
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