Joby Completes Landmark U.S. Defense Exercise with Autonomous Flight Technology
- Logged 7,000+ miles of autonomous operations, more than 40 flight hours
- Demonstrated dual-use potential of Joby’s technology, advancing both defense readiness and commercial market leadership
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Generated mission-critical data to inform next-generation
U.S. defense

Joby’s autonomous flight technology Superpilot flying a Cessna 208 during REFORPAC 2025.
The autonomous flights were managed from ground control stations at various locations throughout the exercise, primarily from more than 3,000 miles away at Andersen Air Force Base in
The Department of Defense has requested
“The exercise demonstrated Superpilot’s ability to operate in complex, real-world scenarios with the precision and reliability demanded by the
“AFWERX has partnered with Joby’s team for several years with increasingly complex development and demonstration efforts of autonomy to support contested logistics missions,� said Lt. Col. Jonathan Gilbert, AFWERX Prime division chief. “REFORPAC was an opportunity to demonstrate the technology in a realistic environment and highlight the potential impact of these autonomous systems. The lessons learned from this exercise participation are vital to guiding our focus as we continue development of affordable technologies that support the needs of our Airmen.�
The
Joby’s Superpilot, integrated into a Cessna Caravan 208 platform, was tasked with a variety of missions. Highlights include:
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Mission Readiness: Superpilot demonstrated the capability to execute rapid cargo deliveries, hub-and-spoke logistics, inter-island transport, dynamic retasking, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) profiles.
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Operational Versatility: Flights were successfully conducted in all classes of airspace (B, C, D and uncontrolled) and under both visual and instrument flight rules.
- Airlift Capabilities: Superpilot piloted a total of 7,342 miles over 43.7 hours. Within the exercise, the aircraft completed six sorties, flying for 14 hours covering 2,416 miles. The campaign also included a roundtrip ferry flight of 4,925 miles, with Superpilot successfully handling a Pacific Ocean crossing, landing and taxi at destination airports.
In June 2024, Joby the autonomy division of Xwing, Inc., including Superpilot, with the goal of accelerating development of autonomous flight technology in defense and commercial applications.
About Joby
Joby Aviation, Inc. (NYSE:JOBY) is a
About AFRL
The Air Force Research Laboratory, or AFRL, is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space and cyberspace forces. With a workforce spanning across nine technology areas and 40 other operations around the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development. For more information, visit .
About AFWERX
As the innovation arm of the DAF and a directorate within the Air Force Research Laboratory, AFWERX brings cutting-edge American ingenuity from small businesses and start-ups to address the most pressing challenges of the DAF. AFWERX employs approximately 370 military, civilian and contractor personnel at four hubs and sites executing an annual
Forward-Looking Statements
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Source: Joby Aviation, Inc.