US Air Force Expands Joby Autonomous Flight Contracts to Nearly $37 Million for Pacific Cargo Tests

The US Air Force increased its commitments to Joby Aviation’s autonomous-flight work from $20 million to nearly $37 million through AFWERX and raised the operational-testing contract ceiling to $50 million. The funding supports software development and follow-on Pacific military exercises using Joby’s J208, a converted Cessna Caravan turboprop fitted with autonomous controls. During a 2026 cross-country demonstration, the system performed taxi, takeoff, navigation and landing without control inputs from the onboard safety pilot on the eastbound leg, providing a test basis for remotely supervised cargo and resupply missions.