Joby Aviation to acquire Dayton’s Resonant Sciences in $500 million defense tech deal
Joby Aviation agreed to acquire Dayton-based Resonant Sciences for about $500 million, funded with roughly $450 million in cash and $50 million in Joby common stock. Joby says Resonant had over $100 million in trailing-12-month revenue, up about 40% YoY. The deal is expected to close in H1 2027, subject to approvals.
How this was made
The 30-second read
Why it matters
The transaction is structured to keep Resonant’s name and leadership while folding it into Joby’s defense aircraft and autonomy programs, with commercial operations remaining focused on eVTOL certification and manufacturing.
Market read
Traders can frame this as a defense-business build and capacity expansion story, with deal probability and integration execution as the main drivers until the H1 2027 close.
What to watch
Regulatory review and customary closing conditions could extend timelines; integration risk is meaningful given Resonant’s classified workforce and separate commercial focus.
Background
Joby is an electric air-taxi developer seeking to build a defense and autonomy capability via Resonant Sciences, a Dayton-based defense tech supplier.
Ticker impact
Joby agreed to acquire Resonant Sciences for about $500 million, adding a defense unit with classified capabilities and Ohio capacity.
Near-term: deal-spread and M&A sentiment likely supportive; medium-term: execution and regulatory timeline will drive re-rating.
The article discloses deal size, funding mix, revenue scale, and expected close window (H1 2027), which are key inputs for M&A probability and risk premium.
Market effects
Could increase competitive focus on defense-grade autonomy and RF/electronics integration within the eVTOL and defense tech supply chain.
Concentrates additional defense manufacturing and testing capacity in the Dayton, Ohio area, potentially affecting local defense contractor ecosystems.
Signals continued defense demand and consolidation in dual-use autonomy and electrified/hydrogen-electric technology.
Counterpoint
The acquisition may not de-risk the core eVTOL certification and commercialization timeline; defense revenue may take longer to scale than investors expect.
Key entities
- public_companyJoby Aviation
Acquirer of Resonant Sciences in a ~$500 million defense tech deal, funding with cash and Joby common stock.
- public_companyResonant Sciences
Target company with trailing-12-month revenue over $100 million, security-cleared workforce, and qualified defense electronics and RF capabilities.
- executiveJ. Micah North
Co-founder and CEO of Resonant Sciences, expected to remain in leadership post-close.
