On Wednesday, Joby aviation said its contract with the Defense Department to test its air taxis for Military use has been more than doubled.

The Department of Defense has now committed to spend up to $75 million to examine Joby’s  vertical takeoff and landing vehicles for transport in non-combat roles, including medical response, personnel transport, and resupply.

Joby had previously signed a contract with the Air Force in April of 2020 for $30 million. The new contract will expand testing into the Army, Navy, and Marines in addition to the Air Force.

Joby’s piloted air taxis use a series of tiltable propellers arrayed around the vehicle that can operate vertically for vertical takeoff, and then tilt to engage in more conventional, winged flight, allowing the transport of up to four passengers at 200 mph, for a range of up to 150 miles. The military is looking specifically if the air taxis may be cheaper and quieter than traditional helicopters.

The company has said it is using its work with the military to help support its efforts to create a commercial passenger service using its air-taxis in 2024. It aircraft are presently undergoing testing in Marina, California.

Joby CEO JoeBen Bevirt said in a news release, “This extension provides valuable support for our ongoing development efforts and allows our partners to see first-hand the potential for this aircraft in their future concept of operations.”

The company saw its stock rise mildly after Thursday’s reporting of second quarter results. The report revealed  it had $1.2 billion in cash on hand, and it was diminishing net-cash-spending on research and development through the year below estimates, through identification of operational efficiencies, as teams better integrated with each other.