Aviation News – Electric aircraft developer Joby Aviation has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Dayton, Ohio-based defense contractor Resonant Sciences for approximately $500 million, delivering immediate scale to its military portfolio through an EBITDA-positive business.
The transaction pairs California-headquartered Joby Aviation, Inc. (NYSE: JOBY) with Resonant Sciences, a rapidly growing technology company supporting active U.S. national security programs. Structured with $450 million in cash and $50 million in Joby common stock, the deal represents a major strategic expansion as electric aircraft developers strengthen ties with defense partners.
The acquisition brings Resonant Sciences’ established production operations, classified infrastructure, and long-standing customer relationships directly under Joby’s defense organization. Founded in 2015, Resonant generates over $100 million in trailing revenue with strong profitability margins, supplying Joby with immediate financial scale and a highly skilled technical workforce holding specialized security clearances.
Operationally, the deal combines Joby’s aerospace engineering, electric propulsion, and autonomy technology stack with Resonant’s advanced radio-frequency (RF), sensing, and mission systems capabilities. Unifying these complementary platforms accelerates the development of software-defined autonomous systems capable of operating in complex national security environments.
”The combination will pair Resonant’s established capabilities with Joby’s globally leading aircraft propulsion technologies,” stated JoeBen Bevirt, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Joby Aviation. “This gives us the ability to do projects that Resonant couldn’t do alone and Joby couldn’t do alone, but together we can accomplish”.
Moving forward, defense agencies and industry partners should monitor how this unified platform expands dual-use applications across military sector requirements. National security stakeholders and commercial operators ought to prepare for accelerated deployment schedules as autonomous defense platforms move toward operational integration.
The $500 million acquisition establishes a dedicated defense business unit that solidifies Joby’s long-term financial strength while expanding its military technology footprint. By integrating Resonant’s classified manufacturing facilities and specialized sensors with advanced electric flight systems, Joby positions itself as a key supplier for national security programs. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2027, unlocking new growth avenues across both defense and civil aviation markets.
