The U.S. Air Force has accepted its first delivery of a Midnight aircraft from Archer Aviation and executed several simulated military missions with the eVTOL air taxi at Archer's flight testing facility in Salinas, California.
Announcing the delivery on August 15, Archer said it collaborated with Air Force personnel on simulated medical evacuation, cargo, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance flights using the all-electric, five-seat Midnight aircraft.
In its quarterly earnings report last week, Archer reported that the U.S. Department of Defense had accepted the military airworthiness assessment for the Midnight aircraft in July.
“This delivery represents a pivotal moment not only for Archer but for the future of military aviation,” said Archer CEO Adam Goldstein. “Together, our goal is to prove Midnight’s potential and ensure the United States continues to lead the way with the world’s most advanced technology.”
Archer has agreed to deliver up to six Midnight aircraft to the U.S. Air Force under an Afwerx Agility Prime contract potentially worth $142 million. As part of that contract, Archer is also delivering an eVTOL flight simulator to the Air Force.
“Archer's Midnight aircraft has the potential to significantly enhance our operational capabilities,” added Elliott Leigh, director of Afwerx and chief commercialization officer for the USAF. “We look forward to continuing our work with our industry partners as we explore the ways that this advanced aircraft can contribute to the mission.”
Afwerx programs, run by the Air Force Research Laboratory, have involved several other advanced air mobility pioneers as the U.S. government assesses the potential for electric, autonomous, and other novel flight technologies to transform military air support functions. Rival aircraft developer Joby Aviation became the first to deliver an eVTOL air taxi to the U.S. Air Force in September 2023.