Advanced air mobility developer Archer and defense technology firm Anduril unveiled a jointly-developed autonomous, dual-use hybrid-electric VTOL platform on July 20, 2026, during the 2026 Farnborough International Airshow.
Although a clean-sheet design, the new aircraft draws from Archer’s experience in the development of electrically powered VTOLs for passenger transportation. It will be available in commercial and defense versions, with the latter being called “Thunder”.
The military version of this aircraft will be expected to operate alongside crewed aircraft as a “loyal wingman”, acting as a force and capabilities multiplier.
Further details about the commercial cargo version of the new aircraft will be provided at a later date by Archer and Anduril.
Like Archer’s design for the passenger market, this new aircraft will be able to switch from vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) to wing-borne horizontal cruise flight thanks to its tiltrotor propellers. Its hybrid-electric propulsion system, though, will give it the extended range often required for military missions, as well as the capability to carry modular heavy payloads.
The collaboration between Archer and Anduril, an emerging star of the United States defense ecosystem, to develop hybrid military aircraft was announced in 2024. In an exclusive interview with AeroTime during the Dubai Airshow in November 2025, Archer’s Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), Nikhil Goel, provided additional details about this partnership.
Thunder’s first flight is expected to take place in 2027, although Archer has already tested some of the systems on other demonstrator aircraft.