Anduril & Archer Unveil Jointly-Developed Autonomous VTOL Platform for Commercial & Defense Platforms
Anduril and Archer Aviation 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. Archer will announce its first commercial partners for the platform later this week.
Thunder builds on a dual-use platform developed by Archer and Anduril, bringing the commercial VTOL sector’s rapid innovation in electric propulsion and rotor design directly into a clean sheet configuration.
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 Archer’s proven ability to rapidly design, manufacture and fly advanced VTOL aircraft platforms.
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