Joby Aviation has acquired X-Wing, an autonomous flight company, according to a FreightWaves interview with Greg Bowles, Joby's Chief Policy Officer. The purchase price was not disclosed in the source.
According to the source, X-Wing has developed camera, microphone and LiDAR systems designed to detect other aircraft and drones. Joby cited the acquisition in discussing airspace integration for its electric vertical takeoff and landing operations.
The source also states that Joby recently completed what it described as the world's first coast-to-coast autonomous flight series with a large aircraft, and announced a new set of defense contracts with the Air Force the day before the interview.
The X-Wing reference appears in a broader account of Joby's certification and launch planning. Bowles said Joby plans to begin commercial eVTOL service in New York City, Florida and Texas as initial markets under the federal eVTOL Integrated Pilot Program, with flying operations planned for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Joby entered formal FAA certification in 2018 and is approaching type certification for its six-propeller electric aircraft, the source states.
The source also notes that Joby acquired Blade Air Mobility, whose JFK-to-Manhattan helicopter route it plans to begin replacing with Joby aircraft in the coming year. Bowles identified manufacturing scale, rather than certification or airspace, as the binding constraint on expanding service beyond dense urban corridors.