Aug 1 (Reuters) - Defense firm L3Harris Technologies ( LHX )

is working with air taxi maker Joby Aviation ( JOBY ) to

develop a vertical take-off and landing aircraft for defense

applications, the companies said on Friday.

Flight testing for the new military-grade version of Joby's

VTOL aircraft is planned for fall 2025, with operational

demonstrations expected in 2026.

Joby's gas turbine hybrid VTOL aircraft is designed for

low-altitude missions and offers both piloted and fully

autonomous flying.

"The next-generation of vertical lift technology enables

long-range, crewed-uncrewed teaming for a range of missions,"

said Jon Rambeau, president of Integrated Mission Systems at

L3Harris ( LHX ).

Joby CEO JoeBen Bevirt said the company has been working

with the Department of Defense over the past decade to develop

aircraft with dual-purpose technologies, including a gas turbine

hybrid powertrain for its current S4 aircraft platform.

The Joby S4 is an electric VTOL aircraft designed as an air

taxi for urban air mobility, that can carry one pilot and four

passengers.