US companies Joby Aviation and L3Harris Technologies have announced a new strategic partnership for the development of a hybrid-electric aircraft focusing on military applications.
The project aims to adapt the model Joby S4originally fully electric, to operate with a new gas turbine -based propulsion system, creating an optionally piloted vertical landing and vertical landing aircraft.
According to the statement, the goal is to make an evaluation of the aircraft’s military capabilities in low altitude missions, with emphasis on operational versatility. The aircraft will be designed for both crew and autonomous operations, expanding its applicability in various mission scenarios.
The schedule predicts that experimental flights with the new hybrid Evtol start by the end of 2025, with operational statements planned for 2026.
Despite its main acting in the civil sector, Joby already has a history of collaboration with the United States Air Force, having provided electric aircraft prototypes in the defunct Agility Prime program. Over the past few years, the company has received more than $ 130 million from the Air Force to support the development of its vertical takeoff technology.
However, with the realization that fully electric battery-powered aircraft have a limited range, especially for Indo-Pacific military operations, the US Air Force has redirected its focus on 2024 for solutions with hybrid-electrical propulsion, best suited to current tactical and operational requirements.
The new partnership between Joby and L3harris seeks to fill this gap, combining Joby’s advanced air mobility experience with L3harris’s integration and defense capabilities.
Source and image: Joby Aviation. This content was created with the help of AI and revised by the editorial team.
