Emerging American defense contractor Anduril and U.S.-based eVTOL startup Archer Aviation this morning announced an exclusive new partnership to jointly develop a hybrid VTOL aircraft for critical defense applications, targeting a potential program of record from the DOD. Those are programs that Congress not only intends to fund but has appropriated funding for them in the Future Years Defense Program.
The partners hope to bring together Anduril's expertise in AI and systems integration and Archer's ability to rapidly develop advanced VTOL aircraft using existing commercial parts and supply chains in a combined effort to accelerate time-to-market at a fraction of the cost of more traditional alternatives.
As part of the announcement, Archer launched a new program, Archer Defense, which will be supported, in part, by some $430 million in additional equity capital the company plans to also divvy up for other "general corporate purposes."
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The funds come from Stellantis, United, and new institutional investors, including Wellington Management and Abu Dhabi investment holding company 2PointZero, an IHC subsidiary.
Shane Arnott, SVP of Engineering at Anduril, says, "Rapid innovation and scalable production are critical for maintaining technological superiority ... Anduril and Archer share a common vision for advancing capabilities that meet urgent national security needs."
The new military aircraft may be based, at least in part, on the company's Midnight eVTOL aircraft, which completed a transition flight while flying at more than 100 mph in June. The company believes the craft, weighing some 6,500 pounds, is one of the largest eVTOL aircraft to complete a transition. A transition flight occurs when the aircraft takes off vertically like a helicopter, accelerates forward, and transitions from thrust-borne to wing-borne flight like an airplane with tilt propellers forward before decelerating and landing vertically.
Adam Goldstein, founder and CEO of Archer, says the partnership and influx of capital will accelerate the development and deployment of advanced aerospace technologies at scale.
Archer Defense will be led by Joseph Pantalone, who recently joined Archer and has nearly 30 years of experience at Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky.
IEN reached out to Archer regarding further information on development, manufacturing and the aircraft. A company spokesperson says, "The specific details of the program are confidential."
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X-TIMESTAMP-MAP=LOCAL:00:00:00.000,MPEGTS:0
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Emerging American defense contractor Andero and
US based EV to start up Archer Aviation.
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This morning announced an exclusive new
partnership to jointly develop a hybrid V to
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aircraft for critical defense applications.
Targeting a potential program of record from
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the dod.
Those are programs that Congress not only
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intends to fund but has appropriated funding
for them in the future years.
00:24.379 --> 00:27.309
Defense program.
The partners hope to bring together Andrei's
00:27.370 --> 00:33.049
expertise in A I and systems integration and
Archer's ability to rapidly develop advanced vo
00:33.069 --> 00:37.776
aircraft using existing commercial parts and
supply chains in a combined effort to
00:37.785 --> 00:42.666
accelerate time to market at a fraction of the
cost of more traditional alternatives.
00:42.745 --> 00:46.015
As part of the announcement, Archer launched a
new program,
00:46.026 --> 00:52.686
Archer Defense which will be supported in part
by some $430 million in additional equity
00:52.695 --> 00:55.756
capital.
The company plans to also divvy up for other
00:55.765 --> 00:57.625
quote, general corporate purposes.
00:57.972 --> 01:02.692
The funds come from Stans United and new
institutional investors including Wellington
01:02.701 --> 01:08.582
Management in Abu Dhabi Investment Holding
Company 2.0 an IHC subsidiary,
01:08.592 --> 01:14.692
Shane Arnott SVP of Engineering at Andero says,
quote, rapid innovation and scalable production
01:14.702 --> 01:20.389
are critical for maintaining technological
superiority and role and Archer share a common
01:20.400 --> 01:24.980
vision for advancing capabilities that meet
urgent national security needs.
01:24.989 --> 01:31.029
The new military aircraft may be based at least
in part on Archer's midnight EV toll which
01:31.040 --> 01:35.769
recently completed a transition flight while
flying at more than 100 MPH.
01:35.779 --> 01:38.919
In June.
The company believes the craft weighing about
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6500 pounds is one of the largest EV tool
aircraft to complete a transition.
01:44.089 --> 01:47.529
Now, a transition flight occurs when the
aircraft takes off vertically,
01:47.540 --> 01:51.629
like a helicopter accelerates forward and
transitions from thrust,
01:51.639 --> 01:57.919
born to wing borne flight like an airplane with
tilt propellers forward before decelerating and
01:57.930 --> 02:02.180
landing vertically.
Adam Goldstein, founder and CEO of Archer says
02:02.190 --> 02:06.760
the partnership and influx of capital will
accelerate the development and deployment of
02:06.769 --> 02:12.059
advanced aerospace technologies at scale.
Archer Defense will be led by Joseph Pantalone
02:12.070 --> 02:17.190
who recently joined the company and has nearly
30 years of experience at Lockheed Martin and
02:17.279 --> 02:22.179
Sikorski, Ian reached out to Archer and Andero
regarding further information on development,
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manufacturing and the aircraft, but the
companies have not yet responded to our request
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for comments.
I'm David Manti.
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This is manufacturing now.
