Archer Aviation (NYSE:ACHR) shares climbed 5% on Monday after the company introduced a new autonomous vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft platform developed with Anduril and confirmed it will unveil its first commercial customers later this week.
The companies presented the new series hybrid-electric VTOL platform at the Farnborough Airshow, highlighting its potential for both defense and commercial markets. As part of the launch, Anduril revealed Thunder, a Group 5 autonomous attack rotorcraft designed to operate alongside crewed attack and assault aircraft in military missions.
The aircraft incorporates a series hybrid-electric propulsion system with dual tiltrotors capable of adjusting rotor RPM to maximise efficiency throughout different stages of flight. Its tiltrotor architecture enables vertical takeoff and landing while also delivering efficient wingborne cruise, allowing operations without the need for conventional runways and supporting deployment from remote or austere environments.
“This mission required a clean sheet design, built from the ground up to meet the needs of modern commercial and defense applications. We couldn’t simply tweak our existing aircraft. Instead, we took a bold first principles approach alongside Anduril to develop what we believe is the most sophisticated vertical lift aircraft ever made,” commented Adam Goldstein, Founder and CEO of Archer.
Development of the platform has already progressed through multiple full-scale surrogate aircraft test flights, with Thunder scheduled to make its maiden flight in 2027.
The new aircraft draws on Archer’s years of VTOL research, engineering and flight-testing experience gained through its electric air taxi programme. The company also said it expects to announce its first commercial customers for the platform later this week.
