Anduril and Archer Aviation Launch Hybrid VTOL for Defense and Civilian Use
WHO:
Fox Business - Anduril and Archer Aviation are the companies involved in the development of the VTOL platform.
Los Angeles Times - Anduril Industries is based in Costa Mesa, California, and Archer Aviation is based in San José, California.
Los Angeles Times - Shane Arnott is the Senior Vice President of Maneuver Dominance at Anduril.
Los Angeles Times - Adam Goldstein is the founder and CEO of Archer.
WHAT:
Fox Business - The VTOL platform, named Thunder, is designed for both commercial and defense applications.
Fox Business - Thunder operates on a hybrid-electric powertrain and utilizes dual tiltrotors.
Los Angeles Times - Thunder is an autonomous attack aircraft capable of carrying missiles or rockets, patrolling airspace, and transporting cargo.
Fox Business - The first flight of Thunder is planned for 2027.
Los Angeles Times - Archer plans to announce the first customers for the commercial variant of the VTOL later in the week.
WHERE:
Fox Business - The VTOL platform was unveiled at the Farnborough Airshow in England.
Los Angeles Times - The Farnborough International Airshow is located outside of London.
WHEN:
Fox Business - Thunder's first flight is planned for 2027.
Los Angeles Times - The announcement of the commercial variant's first customers is expected later in the week.
WHY:
Fox Business - The dual-use platform aims to leverage commercial electric propulsion for both defense and commercial uses.
Los Angeles Times - Anduril stated that Thunder is "urgently needed today" to achieve maneuver dominance on the modern battlefield.
HOW:
Fox Business - The aircraft's design incorporates technologies from the commercial eVTOL market to enhance operational value.
Los Angeles Times - The autonomy of Thunder is powered by Anduril’s Lattice for Mission Autonomy software, which ensures safe operation around crewed aircraft.
(UPDATED July 22, 2026 01:28 UTC)
Anduril Industries and Archer Aviation have teamed up to develop a new VTOL platform called Thunder, which was recently unveiled at the Farnborough Airshow in England. This autonomous attack aircraft is designed for both commercial and defense applications, featuring a hybrid-electric powertrain and dual tiltrotors, with its first flight scheduled for 2027. Archer is also set to announce the first customers for the commercial variant of Thunder later this week, highlighting its potential to leverage electric propulsion for various uses.