Archer partners with Anduril to develop hybrid VTOL aircraft for US military

The design specifics of the new aircraft remain unclear, but it may be based on Archer's Midnight model. Midnight is designed for urban air taxi services, aiming to replace lengthy car commutes with short electric flights. The US military sees potential in using such aircraft for base transportation or as alternatives when tactical airlifters are unavailable.

Archer recently achieved a significant milestone by completing a transition flight with its Midnight aircraft at speeds over 100 mph. This transition is considered challenging within the industry, marking progress in Archer's Type Certification program with the FAA.

To support its development efforts, Archer raised $430 million from investors including Stellantis and Wellington Management. The company reports raising $2 billion in total capital so far.

Both companies involved in this venture are relatively new startups based in California—Anduril was founded in 2017 and specializes in autonomous systems, while Archer was founded in 2018 focusing on eVTOL technology.

The question remains whether the hybrid VTOL will be piloted or autonomous. Given Anduril's focus on autonomous systems, there is speculation that the new aircraft might incorporate these features.

"Unlike traditional defense contractors who focus primarily on hardware," Anduril states that their core system is Lattice OS, an autonomous command platform essential for modern military technology advancements relying heavily on software engineering rather than just hardware innovation.