Archer Aviation and Anduril Unveil 'Thunder' Hybrid Electric Aircraft for Military and Commercial Use
Archer and Anduril Team Up for Dual-Use Electric Aircraft
San Jose-based Archer Aviation, one of the leading air taxi startups, has unveiled a new aircraft called "Thunder" in collaboration with Anduril, the defense technology company founded by Palmer Luckey. The aircraft was revealed at the Farnborough airshow and represents a hybrid approach combining features of Archer's Midnight air taxi with more established military vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft like the V-22 Osprey.
The partnership aims to address both military and commercial markets with the same platform, reflecting a growing trend in the electric aviation sector to diversify beyond civilian air taxi applications. While electric aviation remains in its early stages, manufacturers are increasingly looking at how eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) technology can serve defense needs.