Joby Aviation Showcases Superpilot™ Autonomous Flight Tech in Major Pacific Exercise
Joby Aviation has recently achieved a significant milestone with its Superpilot™ autonomous flight technology. The company successfully logged over 7,000 miles of autonomous operations during the U.S. Defense Department’s Resolute Force Pacific (REFORPAC) exercise. This groundbreaking demonstration involved a modified Cessna Caravan 208, which flew autonomously across the Pacific Ocean and Hawaii for more than 40 flight hours.
The autonomous flights were meticulously managed from ground control stations located over 3,000 miles away at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam. A safety pilot was onboard to monitor system performance throughout the mission. The aircraft successfully executed a series of operations, including:
- Rapid cargo deliveries
- Hub-and-spoke logistics
- Inter-island transport
- Intelligence surveillance missions
These operations were carried out across all classes of airspace.
“The exercise demonstrated Superpilot’s ability to operate in complex, real-world scenarios with the precision and reliability demanded by the U.S. government,” said Greg Bowles, Chief Policy Officer at Joby. With the Department of Defense requesting $9.4 billion in its fiscal 2026 budget to advance autonomous aircraft technologies, Joby is well-positioned to compete for future defense contracts.
Source: https://www.jobyaviation.com/news/superpilot-reforpac-2025/