Archer Aviation is stepping up its efforts to pursue defense applications for its aircraft with a pair of investments to boost its capability. On August 7, the company said it is buying the patent portfolio of rival eVTOL aircraft developer Overair and is recruiting “key talent” from the former Karem Aircraft spinoff. At the same time, Archer has acquired a manufacturing facility from Mission Critical Composites (MCC).
These initiatives are part of the strategic partnership with defense start-up Anduril Industries to co-develop an uncrewed hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft. In December, the partners announced the alliance with a view to tapping new demand for this capability from the U.S. military and other allied nations.
Archer has not disclosed details about the patents acquired from Overair or specified which employees it has recruited. Last year, after its main investor Hanwha backed out of the program, the California-based company had to slow work on its Butterfly eVTOL aircraft using proprietary Optimum Speed Tilt Rotor and Individual Blade Control Technology. It had started testing the propulsion system for this platform.
MCC’s 60,000-sq-ft Mission Critical Composites facility in Huntington Beach, California, gives Archer in-house composites manufacturing capability to support rapid prototyping and other development work for defense projects. The company has experience in manufacturing for military programs.
Along with several other advanced air mobility pioneers, including rivals Joby and Beta Technologies, California-based Archer is eager to tap a recent Pentagon budget allocation of $13.4 billion to provide autonomous military systems. “The [U.S.] administration has made it clear: leading in advanced aviation in both commercial and defense is a national priority,” said Archer’s founder and CEO, Adam Goldstein. “These acquisitions are part of our commitment. We’re working to accelerate our product development to meet our country’s needs.”