Joby Aviation announced plans to buy Dayton, Ohio-based defense firm Resonant Sciences in a $500 million transaction. The electric aircraft developer intends to finance the purchase using $450 million in cash and $50 million in equity. The acquisition is scheduled to close in early 2027.
Once the purchase is finalized, Resonant will operate as Joby's dedicated defense division. Meanwhile, the commercial division will maintain its focus on air taxis. Joby expects to launch its first commercial air taxis later this year.
Founded in 2015, Resonant Sciences employs roughly 250 people. The firm builds systems that let aircraft operate in complex environments like war zones. Its portfolio includes sensors, antennas, and signal-processing technology for secure communications and interference protection. The company also specializes in low-observability expertise to make aircraft harder to detect. Resonant products are currently qualified across more than 20 commercial and defense airframes. Furthermore, many employees at Resonant hold military clearance due to classified projects.
Joby stated that the acquisition lets the company merge its propulsion and autonomy technology with the radio frequency, sensing, and mission systems capabilities of Resonant. The company plans to design and manufacture stealth aircraft utilizing these newly acquired systems.
Joby maintains a long history of military connections that began in 2016 when the company joined a Defense Innovation Unit project for the Department of Defense. In 2020, Joby achieved a milestone by becoming the first electric vertical takeoff and landing developer to secure an airworthiness approval and flight clearance certificate from the US Air Force for government testing. The company later delivered its first aircraft to Edwards Air Force Base for testing in 2023.
Electric aircraft developers increasingly target military projects to support their capital-intensive businesses. Air taxis have not yet secured required government approvals in most markets to launch commercial services and generate revenue. As a result, companies in the sector frequently report significant quarterly losses. Joby recently reported a net loss of $245.4 million for the second quarter of 2026 alongside $38.6 million in revenue.
Securing military contracts has become a critical parallel objective to launching commercial air taxi services. Industry consolidation is also accelerating. Archer Aviation, a primary rival based in San Jose, recently revealed a new aircraft codeveloped with defense technology firm Anduril. Additionally, Boeing announced the sale of three electric vertical takeoff and landing subsidiaries to Archer in a major agreement.
The transaction is expected to close in early 2027.
