Archer Aviation and Anduril Industries announced the joint development of a new dual-use vertical take-off and landing aircraft called Thunder.
Archer Aviation and Anduril Industries have partnered to develop a new vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) platform designed for both commercial and defense applications. The companies unveiled the military variant, dubbed Thunder, at the Farnborough Airshow in England. The aircraft utilizes a hybrid-electric powertrain and dual tiltrotors to improve range, reduce fuel consumption, and minimize acoustic signatures during low-altitude flight. Adam Goldstein, founder and CEO of Archer Aviation, stated that the companies used a "first principles" approach to build the aircraft from the ground up rather than modifying existing designs. This allows the platform to carry modular, heavy payloads for various uses. Shane Arnott, SVP of maneuver dominance at Anduril Industries, noted that the platform leverages commercial electric propulsion to deliver operational value to defense customers. The team has already completed multiple test flights with full-scale surrogate aircraft. The first flight of Thunder is scheduled to occur in 2027, with Archer Aviation expected to announce commercial partners for the civilian version soon.