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Joby Aviation to acquire Resonant Sciences for $500M to boost defense capabilities
Joby Aviation announced a $500 million acquisition of defense tech firm Resonant Sciences, expanding its footprint in military technology and leveraging established profitable contracts.
The gist
Joby Aviation is expanding into defense with a $500 million buyout of Resonant Sciences, gaining a profitable foothold in national security tech.
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Joby Aviation, the California-based electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft developer, is set to acquire Resonant Sciences, a Dayton, Ohio defense technology company, in an approximately $500 million deal announced August 11, 2026. The acquisition brings immediate scale in the defense sector to Joby through Resonant's revenue-generating operations supporting active U.S. national security programs. This marks a significant strategic expansion beyond Joby's established commercial electric air taxi operations.
Founded in 2015, Resonant Sciences specializes in designing and manufacturing radio frequency (RF) and mission systems tailored for U.S. national security customers. The company has earned recognition as a global leader in low-observability technologies—including stealth structures and subsystems—as well as advanced sensing, electronic countermeasures, communications, and autonomous systems. Operating with a workforce of roughly 250 employees, Resonant has grown steadily in defense contracting.
Resonant generated over $100 million in trailing twelve-month revenue and achieved adjusted EBITDA margins in the high teens. Its revenue growth was robust, with an annual increase of approximately 40%. Additionally, bookings in the first half of 2026 tripled compared to the same period in 2025, while its backlog more than doubled year-over-year. The financials indicate a profitable, expanding defense business now becoming part of Joby Aviation.
Upon closing the acquisition, Resonant Sciences will operate as Joby’s dedicated defense division under its own brand, led by co-founder and CEO J. Micah North. Joby will integrate its existing defense initiatives with Resonant’s operations—these include the dual-use turbine-electric hybrid aircraft project developed with L3Harris since 2025 and Joby’s dual-use autonomy stacks. Meanwhile, Joby’s commercial electric air taxi program will remain organizationally separate, focused on certification and manufacturing.
Resonant’s facilities span approximately 105,000 square feet across seven buildings in the Dayton region, with a planned expansion adding 125,000 square feet under construction. Additional sites exist in Virginia, West Virginia, Michigan, Colorado, and North Carolina. Coupled with Joby’s Ohio manufacturing presence, the combined companies will command nearly one million square feet of manufacturing, integration, and test space in the Dayton area, significantly increasing Joby’s industrial footprint in this key aerospace hub.
JoeBen Bevirt, Joby founder and CEO, framed the acquisition as a pairing of Resonant’s established defense capabilities with Joby’s leadership in aircraft propulsion technologies. Resonant’s CEO North highlighted the benefits of joining Joby, citing access to enhanced engineering resources, new aircraft platforms, autonomy tech, and production expertise. Financially, Joby plans to fund the acquisition with approximately $450 million in cash and $50 million in common stock, with some Resonant employees retaining equity stakes.
The transaction awaits regulatory approval and expects completion in the first half of 2027. This acquisition closely follows a similar move by Joby’s rival Archer Aviation, which agreed to buy Boeing’s subsidiaries Insitu, Wisk Aero, and SkyGrid—anchored by Insitu’s profitable drone manufacturing business generating over $200 million annually. Both eVTOL leaders are accelerating entry into defense markets by acquiring established entities, bypassing the longer timeline needed to mature their own military programs.
This wave of acquisitions signals a strategic pivot among eVTOL developers to diversify into defense contracting, leveraging their technological innovations in autonomy and propulsion. Resonant Sciences’ addition provides Joby with a sizable and profitable foothold in high-demand national security technologies at a time when the sector continues to invest heavily in advanced sensing, electronic warfare, and autonomous systems.
Frequently asked questions
- What company is Joby Aviation acquiring and for how much?
- Joby Aviation is acquiring Resonant Sciences, a defense technology company, for approximately $500 million.
- What does Resonant Sciences specialize in?
- Resonant Sciences designs and manufactures radio frequency and mission systems, specializing in low-observability technologies, sensing, electronic countermeasures, communications, and autonomous systems for U.S. national security.
- How will the acquisition affect Joby's defense initiatives?
- Resonant Sciences will become Joby's dedicated defense business, integrating existing Joby defense projects like the dual-use turbine-electric hybrid aircraft and autonomy tech, while Joby's commercial air taxi operations remain separate.
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