Joby Aviation has agreed to acquire Resonant Sciences for $500 million in cash and stock, marking a major step in the company's push into defense technologies, according to a regulatory filing.
The Ohio-based firm specializes in radio frequency and sensor systems and will become the foundation of a new defense division inside Joby. Resonant Sciences co-founder and CEO J. Micah North will lead the unit, which will also bring together Joby's work on turbine-electric and hydrogen-electric aircraft, along with its autonomy technology stack.
With this structure, Joby aims to keep its core team focused on certifying, manufacturing, and preparing its electric air taxi for launch. The company is best known for developing urban eVTOL aircraft designed to move people and goods across short distances.
The move also adds a revenue-generating business to Joby's portfolio. Resonant Sciences reported $100 million in trailing 12-month revenue and has access to classified U.S. government programs. Its sensing capabilities are expected to complement Joby's aircraft platforms and broader aerospace ambitions.
Joby has used acquisitions to strengthen its near-term business model before. Last year, it bought Blade Air Mobility's helicopter rideshare operation, gaining terminals in major U.S. markets and additional revenue while continuing to build its next-generation air mobility network.
As electric aviation evolves, Joby's expanding portfolio suggests a future where advanced flight systems, defense applications, and urban air mobility develop side by side.
