Joby Aviation to acquire Dayton’s Resonant Sciences in $500 million defense tech deal
The proposed transaction would place Joby’s defense aircraft and autonomy programs within Resonant’s Dayton operation, combining its electric propulsion technology with RF sensing, mission systems and low-observability expertise.
Joby Aviation agreed to acquire Dayton-based Resonant Sciences for approximately $500 million, a deal that would give the electric-air-taxi developer a dedicated defense business with classified capabilities, a cleared workforce and expanded manufacturing capacity in Ohio.
Joby said Resonant will continue operating under its existing name and leadership after the transaction closes, while becoming home to Joby’s defense aircraft and autonomy programs. Joby’s commercial organization will remain focused on certifying, manufacturing and commercializing its electric air-taxi business.
Resonant generated more than $100 million in trailing-12-month revenue, up approximately 40% from a year earlier, according to Joby. The company said the transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2027, subject to regulatory reviews and other customary closing conditions.
Why it matters
The deal would expand Joby’s presence in defense technology while preserving a separate focus for its commercial aviation business.
- Dedicated defense unit: Resonant would become Joby’s defense business and incorporate the company’s dual-use turbine-electric, hydrogen-electric and autonomy programs.
- Existing programs: Resonant supports U.S. government customers, prime contractors and classified national-security initiatives, according to Joby.
- Commercial operations: Joby said its commercial aviation organization will continue focusing on its electric air-taxi program.
By the numbers
- $500 million: Approximate transaction value, funded with about $450 million in cash and $50 million in Joby common stock.
- $100M+: Resonant trailing-12-month revenue, according to Joby.
- 40%: Approximate year-over-year revenue growth reported by Joby.
- 3x+: First-half 2026 bookings compared with the same period in 2025, according to Joby.
- 250: Approximate Resonant employee count.
- 90%+: Share of Resonant employees holding security clearances, according to Joby.
- 20+: Commercial and defense airframes on which Resonant’s electronics, apertures and radomes are qualified.
The Ohio angle
Resonant operates approximately 105,000 square feet of engineering, testing, integration and manufacturing space across seven Dayton-area buildings, according to the announcement. A 125,000-square-foot facility is under construction to expand capacity for RF testing, advanced composites and large-scale machining.
Together with Joby’s 768,000 square feet of Ohio facilities, the companies said the combined operation would have approximately 1 million square feet of manufacturing, integration and testing space across the Dayton region.
Resonant will retain its name and remain led by co-founder and CEO J. Micah North, Joby said.
“Resonant’s name, leadership, people and commitments to our customers will remain in place,” North said. “What changes is the scale of what we can build and deliver.”
What’s next
Joby expects the acquisition to close in the first half of 2027 following regulatory reviews and other customary closing conditions.
