A Cessna that flies itself: US Air Force tests Joby Aviation’s autonomous Grand Caravan
September 4, 2025
In a landmark demonstration of next-generation logistics, the United States Air Force has successfully flown a Cessna Grand Caravan autonomously. The aircraft was equipped with advanced flight systems and flew across the Hawaiian Islands, remotely operated from more than 3,800 miles away.
The flights, conducted during Resolute Force Pacific (REFORPAC) from 24 to 30 July 2025, showed how legacy aircraft, when retrofitted with autonomy-enabling technologies, can deliver critical logistics advantages in contested or degraded environments.
The demonstration was led by AFWERX, the innovation arm of the Air Force, in partnership with Joby Aviation, as part of the Department-Level Exercise (DLE) series.
Flying itself in Hawaii, controlled from Guam
The Grand Caravan, a widely used utility aircraft, was adapted with autonomous systems allowing it to taxi, take off, fly and land without human input, though a safety pilot was present for each sortie.
Throughout the week, the aircraft conducted daily cargo flights between Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and the islands of Oahu, Lanai, Maui and Hawaii, all remotely operated from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam.
The demonstration validated the feasibility of distributed operations across the Indo-Pacific, a theatre defined by vast distances, limited infrastructure and growing operational complexity.
Joby’s Superpilot system enables full autonomy
Although not designed as an autonomous aircraft, the Grand Caravan was upgraded through a collaboration between AFWERX and Joby Aviation, with support from Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II and III contracts.
Joby’s Superpilot system enables the aircraft to complete full missions autonomously, adapt to updated flight plans in-flight and land at unfamiliar airstrips using onboard sensors and imagery.
The platform is being evaluated as a cost-effective, runway-independent alternative to conventional cargo aircraft, aligned with the Air Force’s Agile Combat Employment (ACE) strategy and its focus on contested logistics.
A fit for Indo-Pacific contested logistics
With short takeoff and landing capability, flexible payload capacity and a small logistics footprint, the Grand Caravan is well-suited for Indo-Pacific operations.
“Operating across the vast distances of the Indo-Pacific demands innovation,” said Lieutenant General Laura Lenderman, deputy commander of Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). “Demonstrations like this help us explore how autonomous systems can enhance dispersed operations, reduce reliance on fixed infrastructure and strengthen our ability to respond quickly.”
Major Thomas Davis, PACAF Futures deputy chief, added: “We’ve got to make use of the land that is out here, and that means a lot of small payloads of equipment, a lot of short-duration flights going to various places. That’s why this capability is so useful in the Pacific theatre.”
One of the strategic advantages of autonomy is reducing the demand on forward-deployed personnel.
“Manpower is one of the challenges we face in PACAF. Any opportunity to reduce the logistics burden on our Airmen allows them to focus on other critical tasks,” said Dr Michael Durstock, PACAF’s chief science and technology adviser.
AFWERX programme manager Second Lieutenant Sarah Hubert added: “Our mission is to reduce barriers so promising commercial capabilities can reach the warfighter faster.”
Building momentum from earlier autonomous trials
The REFORPAC demonstration builds on AGILE FLAG 24-1 and 24-3, where Joby and Reliable Robotics flew 47 autonomous Grand Caravan missions in California, covering more than 6,600 miles.
In REFORPAC 2025, the Superpilot system logged more than 7,000 miles and 40 flight hours, all remotely operated from Guam with safety pilots aboard.
“Contested logistics comes down to pushing forward, protecting assets and staying agile,” said Brigadier General Jason Bartolomei, commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory. “By working together with industry, we’re not just building better technologies, but a stronger defence ecosystem.”
The Department-Level Exercise series reflects a broader strategic shift toward preparing for dynamic, multi-domain environments, involving more than 400 aircraft and 12,000 personnel across 50+ locations.
For AFWERX and its partners, transforming proven commercial aircraft into autonomy-enabled platforms is a pragmatic step toward building a more flexible, resilient and distributed logistics capability; precisely what is needed for modern deterrence and future conflict.
