California-based Joby Aviation has taken its Superpilot autonomous flight system through a “landmark” demonstration at the Resolute Force Pacific exercise.
Integrated into a Cessna Caravan 208, the tech logged more than 7,000 miles (11,265 kilometers) and 43 hours of autonomous operations across six sorties.
This included a 2,416-mile (3,889-kilometer) flight lasting 14 hours and a roundtrip ferry flight that covered 4,925 miles (7,927 kilometers). The Superpilot reportedly handled crossings, landings, and taxi operations during these sorties.
The demo also showcased the system’s ability to be controlled from multiple ground control stations, including the Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, which was more than 3,000 miles (4,828 kilometers) away.
For safety, a real pilot was onboard the plane to monitor the tech’s performance.
“The exercise demonstrated Superpilot’s ability to operate in complex, real-world scenarios with the precision and reliability demanded by the US government,” said Greg Bowles, Chief Policy Officer at Joby.
“This is a testament to our decade-long collaboration with the Department of Defense and a significant step toward deploying our dual-use technologies in the field.”
Autonomy in Action
The system performed a range of missions, from rapid cargo delivery and hub-and-spoke logistics to inter-island transport and dynamic retasking.
It also supported intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.
The exercise showed how a light cargo aircraft equipped with the Superpilot could take on urgent, high-risk intra-theater deliveries, freeing larger, more costly aircraft for other missions.
Joby acquired Superpilot in June 2024 through its purchase of Xwing’s autonomy division.
With the Pentagon’s fiscal 2026 budget potentially setting aside $9.4 billion for autonomous and hybrid aircraft, the company is positioning itself as a contender for future programs.
