Joby Aviation is giving itself a second act in defense. The electric air taxi maker has agreed to absorb Resonant Sciences, an Ohio builder of radio-frequency and mission systems, in a deal worth roughly $500M, comprising $450M in cash and $50M in stock, with completion targeted for the first half of 2027.
Resonant Sciences designs and builds advanced radio-frequency and mission systems for U.S. national security customers. Once the deal closes, it will operate as Joby’s dedicated defense business, giving the eVTOL pioneer a second revenue engine alongside commercial air taxi service.
The acquisition also brings roughly one million square feet of manufacturing, integration and testing space across the Dayton, Ohio region, a footprint Joby could use as it moves from aircraft development toward production. Military demand for autonomous aircraft, drones, hybrid propulsion and advanced communications has surged amid the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, and defense contracts offer eVTOL makers steady, well-funded revenue while commercial certification grinds on.
The timing is notable. The deal lands four months after Joby launched its first electric air taxi flights in New York, shuttling passengers to JFK in about seven minutes. Investors reacted coolly at first, with shares slipping 6.5% in premarket trading.
For Joby, the bet is that a startup built around flying taxis can also win in defense electronics. For Resonant Sciences, it means joining a well-capitalized parent with production ambitions far beyond the Dayton hangars.
