Archer Aviation News

Flying Magazine

Archer and Anduril: self-flying ‘loyal wingman’ heavy-drone concept shifts eVTOL plans

Archer and Anduril are positioning a hybrid-power, autonomous, runway-independent heavy-drone design for civil and defense missions, rather than advancing Archer’s electric flying-taxi concept in that “heavy-drone” configuration. The companies describe autonomy and hybrid propulsion as the core enablers for the loyal-wingman role.

Flying Magazine

Archer, Anduril Self-Flying Aircraft Could Serve as ‘Loyal Wingman’

AINonline

High activity

Embraer- Anduril eye Barracuda missile; Anduril and Archer unveil autonomous hybrid-electric VTOL platform as interceptor market

Embraer and Anduril signed an MOU to pursue the Barracuda missile for the C-390, without a timeline for initial testing. Separately, Anduril and Archer Aviation unveiled a jointly-developed autonomous hybrid-electric VTOL platform for both defense and commercial missions. In adjacent drone-defense moves, Kratos was selected by the US Energy Department to protect nuclear transports from drone attacks, and X-Bow announced its Buckler interceptor after successful flight testing against Shahed-type drones.

Reuters

High activity

Farnborough day one: Riyadh Air books 34 widebodies, Boeing sees a 150-plus order flurry as Airbus counters

Riyadh Air placed orders for 34 additional widebody aircraft on the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow, scaling commitments with Airbus and Boeing months after launching scheduled passenger service. Separate reporting pegged Boeing’s opening-day tally at nearly 150 orders, with Airbus countering later, while Pratt & Whitney and British Airways secured the first major deals of the day.

The Air Current

High activity

FAA and DOT expand hybrid-electric and autonomous aircraft pilots while Electra’s EL9 hybrid-electric “ultra short” design moves

The FAA has formally established a certification basis for Electra’s EL9 Ultra Short, closing out the prior G-1 Issue Paper and advancing the nine-passenger hybrid-electric aircraft toward type certification. Separately, DOT’s multistate electric and autonomous aircraft trials are set to expand to more states and increasingly complex operations, alongside early landing/vertiport preparation in NYC and LA.

FlightGlobal

Joby seeks jury trial as Archer pushes for dismissal in trade-secret dispute

Joby Aviation has requested a jury trial as Archer Aviation asks a federal judge to dismiss its trade-secret claims. The motion keeps the legal fight over alleged confidential information in an active litigation posture rather than ending it at the pleading stage.

Reuters

High activity

Joby and Toyota set up an eVTOL manufacturing joint venture, with Toyota as majority owner and a target of ~500 air taxis per ye

Joby Aviation and Toyota Motor Corporation have launched the initial phase of their strategic manufacturing alliance by establishing a joint venture to realize air mobility. Toyota will be the majority owner of the production company, and the partners aim for production of about 500 air taxis annually.

FlightGlobal

Judge dismisses Archer claims that Joby concealed China ties in eVTOL fraud lawsuit

A U.S. federal judge dismissed Archer Aviation’s claims and related counterclaims in a fraud dispute targeting Joby Aviation over allegations that Joby concealed business ties with China. The latest ruling keeps both developers in a prolonged legal fight even as eVTOL certification and commercialization remain in motion.