The Defense Department has long invested in experimental aviation and transportation tech that it believes could give the U.S. a geopolitical edge over its rivals.
The program, created by the Air Force's innovation arm, works with private companies building innovative aircraft.
The effort is meant to accelerate the development of electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft for military and commercial use. Under the expanded contract, now worth up to $75 million, the U.S. Marine Corps will also test Joby’s eVTOLs in noncombat roles such as resupply, transport, and emergency medical response.Joby executive chairman Paul Sciarra said the company's ultimate goal is still to launch a commercial air taxi service, but military business can help it get there by providing access to testing facilities, offering early operational experience, and offsetting some research and development costs.
And working with the U.S. Air Force or Marines will also help build consumer awareness and trust, he said, adding, "seeing them fly around on bases helps normalize them to consumers."have also turned to Defense Department contracts while working toward commercial deployment.the first crewed eVTOL demonstration flights for Agility Prime.that could be used by the government for rapid surveillance and reconnaissance, command and control, emergency medical evacuation, and troop transport.
The military is especially interested in eVTOLs because they're expected to be cheaper and easier to maintain than traditional helicopters — and quieter, too, which would help in stealth operations.When you're inventing a new type of electric aircraft, diversification makes a lot of sense.
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