Anduril and Archer Unveil Jointly-Developed Autonomous VTOL Platform For Commercial and Defense Applications
- Anduril and Archer today unveiled a jointly-developed series hybrid-electric VTOL (Vertical Take Off and Landing) platform built to serve both defense and commercial applications.
- Anduril showcased the defense variant, Thunder, a Group 5 autonomous attack rotorcraft specifically designed to multiply the combat power of current and next-generation crewed attack and assault aircraft.
- The two companies have built what they believe to be a step change in vertical lift: a new class of autonomous aircraft with the speed, range, payload and operating cost that defense and commercial missions demand.
- * Group 5 (UAS classification): The highest U.S. unmanned aircraft category, covering large systems with a maximum gross takeoff weight over 1,320 lb (600 kg), operating at high altitudes with long endurance.
FARNBOROUGH, England e28093 Jul 20, 2026 e28094 Anduril and Archer Aviation (NYSE: ACHR) today unveiled their jointly-developed autonomous VTOL aircraft platform, built to serve both defense and commercial applications. Anduril showcased the defense variant, Thunder, a Group 5 autonomous attack rotorcraft specifically designed to multiply the combat power of current and next-generation crewed attack and assault aircraft.
Together, the two companies have built what they believe to be a step change in vertical lift: a new class of autonomous aircraft with the speed, range, payload and operating cost that defense and commercial missions demand.
Thunder builds on a dual-use platform developed by Archer and Anduril, bringing the commercial VTOL sectore28099s rapid innovation in electric propulsion and rotor design directly into a clean sheet configuration.
A series hybrid-electric powertrain enables the aircraft to achieve significant range and endurance, while still maintaining the necessary precision to closely optimize power through the full range of flight conditions. Meanwhile, dual tiltrotors vary rotor RPM to maintain efficiency across flight regimes, reducing power demand and fuel burn in cruise and minimizing acoustic signature to enhance survivability during low-altitude ingress.
The platforme28099s tiltrotor configuration combines Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) with efficient wingborne cruise, enabling runway-independent operations from austere locations without the range constraints of traditional rotorcraft.
Anduril and Archer have configured the dual-use platform to bring modular, heavy payloads to an array of commercial and defense applications. It leverages years of development and flight testing on air taxis, highlighting Archere28099s proven ability to rapidly design, manufacture and fly advanced VTOL aircraft platforms.
e2809cFrom raw performance to producibility, harnessing the best technologies from the commercial eVTOL market for defense is central to how Thunder will deliver operational value to our customers. The clean-sheet, dual-use platform that wee28099ve built with Archer truly represents a step change in capabilitye2809d, said Shane Arnott, SVP of Maneuver Dominance at Anduril.
e2809cThis mission required a clean sheet design, built from the ground up to meet the needs of modern commercial and defense applications. We couldne28099t 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 madee2809d, said Adam Goldstein, Founder and CEO of Archer.
The team has already completed multiple test flights with full-scale surrogate aircraft, a critical step towards proving out the systems that will be central to Thundere28099s performance. Thundere28099s first flight is planned for 2027.
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Source: Anduril & Archer
