Joby Aviation Makes a Bold Move with Blade Acquisition and Military Expansion
Joby Aviation is acquiring Blade Air Mobility’s passenger business in a deal worth up to $125 million, gaining access to Blade’s 50,000+ annual passengers, urban terminals like JFK and Manhattan, and over a decade of operating expertise. While Blade’s medical organ transport division will be spun off as Strata Critical Medical, it will continue collaborating with Joby on vital healthcare logistics.
This acquisition is a strategic leap toward commercializing flying taxis, as Joby seeks FAA certification for its eVTOL aircraft. CEO JoeBen Bevirt called the move a “launchpad” to scale up operations and reach more urban takeoff/landing zones with clean, quiet electric aircraft.
Blade CEO Rob Wiesenthal will continue leading passenger services, now under Joby, with an initial phase of helicopter and eVTOL hybrid ops transitioning fully to electric over time.
On the defense front, Joby is teaming up with L3Harris Technologies to develop a hybrid VTOL aircraft for military use. Using Joby’s S4 platform, the aircraft will support low-altitude, crewed, and autonomous missions with operational demos set for 2026.
From urban skies to tactical battlefields, Joby is positioning itself as a pioneer in both civilian and military vertical aviation.