Tech companies are pushing flying taxis from city skies to the battlefield

U.S. tech companies that are looking to develop flying taxis to transport people between, say, Manhattan and LaGuardia Airport are now also looking to the defense industry. At the same time that tech companies are working toward commercializing the use of flying taxis, they are working to ensure that the aircraft have military applications as well.

Air taxis are equipped with wings and propellers and are capable of taking off and landing vertically like helicopters and cruising forward like airplanes. Even though air taxis are not available in the U.S. market as of now, there are possibilities that commercial flights may soon be available.

The Defense Department, or the Pentagon, has been increasingly reaching out to the tech sector, claiming that current contractors are not able to provide modern technologies on an affordable enough scale in order for these technologies to be effectively used for countering new challenges posed by the rapidly changing global environment. As part of this, the Defense Department has pledged several billions in funding on new technologies and has put out solicitations for info on hybrid, autonomous air taxis, also referred to as vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, or “VTOLs.”

The companies, such as Archer Aviation, Joby Aviation, and Beta Technologies, declare that their gas-electric hybrid aircraft, reminiscent of a "Jetsons" cartoon, are able to transport military goods more effectively, efficiently, and economically than traditional helicopters. Other military applications for these aircraft include autonomous systems for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions, as well as transport for military equipment.

American firms are scrambling to move the technology forward, as Chines firms, including EHang, are seeking to develop it. Although the market for small battle drones belongs to Chines firms, the market for VTOL technology has yet to mature.

“If we can go further and faster than a helicopter, then we have something that’s more capable than what China would be bringing to the table,” said Kyle Clark, CEO of Beta.

The majority of air taxis that are commercially available are electric, though batteries could be replaced with hybrid engines that increase range and capacity, which is a major factor for military employment, said executives with both Joby and Beta.

All three firms are working on autonomous military VTOL aircraft. The Beta version relies on a human entering the location coordinates as well as the use of artificial intelligence in the control of the aircraft. The removal of pilots as well as passenger support components increases the efficiency of the aircraft.

Landing contracts with the Pentagon would put these companies in the company of a rising list of dual-use ventures catering to the commercial and government sectors. Joby has partnered with the defense contractor L3Harris, Archer is working with Anduril Industries, and the latter is co-developing a VTOL called "Omen" for the military. But getting regulatory approvals is a significant challenge for its use in civilian life. However, it looks like the FAA has lately introduced measures for expedited testing. Currently, Joby leads the pack in certification. Commercial operations could start in 2026.