SyberJet Aircraft has selected Williams International’s FJ44-4A to power its next-generation light jet, the SJ36. The companies announced the engine partnership on October 15, 2025, during the NBAA-BACE convention in Las Vegas.
Each FJ44-4A will produce 3,621 pounds of thrust, giving the twinjet a combined total of more than 7,200 pounds. With a maximum takeoff weight of 18,500 pounds, the SJ36 achieves a thrust-to-weight ratio of 38.9%, providing strong climb performance, according to the company. SyberJet’s earlier model, the SJ30-2, used smaller FJ44-2A engines.
The SJ36 is designed to push the limits of the light-jet category. SyberJet targets a top cruise speed of Mach 0.88, a 3,000-nm range, and a 49,000-foot ceiling. First flight is planned for 2027, with certification targeted for 2032.
Williams’ FJ44 family is a mainstay in the segment, known for its efficiency and reliability. The -4A variant powers several other light and midsize aircraft types, making it a proven choice for SyberJet’s new platform.
The SJ36 will also debut SyberVision, SyberJet’s integrated flight deck. The avionics suite will feature six high-definition touchscreens, dual flight management systems, an autothrottle, fly-by-wire controls, enhanced weather tools, and secure over-the-air updates.
The SJ36 continues a lineage that began with designer Ed Swearingen, whose SA-30 concept from the late 1980s evolved into the SJ30. The aircraft was certified as the SJ30-2 in 2005 and delivered to its first customer the following year. After multiple ownership changes, the program was revived as SyberJet, which now operates from Chandler, Arizona.
SyberJet CEO Trevor Milton called the Williams partnership a “performance and reliability win” for the new program. “The FJ44 is a workhorse and extremely reliable,” he said. “There is just no other engine like it.” Williams International Chairman and CEO Gregg Williams described the collaboration as a “perfect match,” noting the engine’s performance and lifetime maintenance program.
Milton is best known as the founder of electric truck manufacturer Nikola. He resigned from the company in 2020 after short-seller Hindenburg Research accused Nikola of misleading investors. In 2022, a federal jury convicted Milton of securities and wire fraud. He was sentenced to four years in prison in December 2023 and fined $1 million. In March 2025, President Donald Trump granted him a full pardon.
SyberJet says the SJ36 will be capable of flying US coast-to-coast and Los Angeles to Hawaii nonstop, retaining single-pilot capability while offering higher cruise speeds and longer range than competing twinjets.
For Williams, the agreement adds another airframe to the FJ44-4A’s portfolio, which also includes the Cessna Citation CJ4 and Pilatus PC-24. The company highlights the model’s durability, low operating cost, and strong support infrastructure.
