Anduril and Archer building hybrid aircraft for military use
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Defense contractor Anduril Industries and Archer Aviation are together developing a hybrid-power vertical takeoff and landing aircraft they hope can win the Pentagon's favor.
Why it matters: Climate change concerns, fuel-hauling challenges and battlefield advantages are pushing the U.S. military closer to alternative power sources for its arsenal.
- The in-the-works M1E3 Abrams tank, for example, will be the Army's first hybrid-electric combat vehicle, according to service leadership.
Driving the news: Archer, a prominent electric flight startup, on Thursday also announced a $430 million equity capital raise for this plan and its wider corporate development.
- Participants in this equity round include United Airlines, Stellantis, Wellington Management and Abu Dhabi's 2PointZero.
Zoom in: Anduril and Archer were cagey about sharing aircraft details. But Archer CEO Adam Goldstein told Axios, "You can imagine things that helicopters do are the things that we're building toward."
- Archer's work on the project falls under its new defense division led by Sikorsky alum Joseph Pantalone.
- The company this summer delivered its Midnight aircraft to the Air Force for evaluation under the Agility Prime program.
The big picture: The companies said the project will combine Archer's aircraft development experience with Anduril's expertise in AI, autonomy and more.
Catch up quick: Anduril is on a partnering spree, linking up with Microsoft, OpenAI, Palantir Technologies, Impulse Space, Apex Space and FlackTek in recent weeks.
What we're watching: Specifics about the envisioned aircraft, which are in short supply now.
Go deeper: In remote Texas, Anduril probes future of drone warfare
