Flying Taxi-Style Aircraft Rush to Fill Pentagon’s Pacific Needs

The Defense Department and its contractors are spending big and teaming with investors and logistics giants to mold innovations in “middle mile” aircraft to meet the Pentagon’s needs in Asia and the Pacific.

Defense contracts oriented around potential conflict in the region has included spending on drones, hypersonic missiles, and artificial intelligence-powered and autonomous systems, among other technology.

Long thought of as futuristic aerial taxis for rich urbanites, short- to medium-range aircraft with features that can be put to work in military theaters have also drawn attention—and funding—recently.

Defense Department programs like AFWERX Agility Prime, initiatives out of the Defense ...