Anduril and Archer Unveil Defense VTOL

Anduril and Archer Aviation have unveiled a jointly-developed autonomous VTOL aircraft platform for defense and commercial applications. Anduril showcased the defense variant, Thunder, a Group 5 autonomous attack rotorcraft designed to add capacity to crewed attack aircraft.

The aircraft includes a series hybrid-electric powertrain. Dual tiltrotors vary rotor RPM to maintain efficiency, reducing power demand, fuel burn in cruise, and acoustic signature during low-altitude flight.

The tiltrotor configuration combines vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) with wingborne cruise, allowing runway-independent operations without the range constraints of traditional rotorcraft, according to the company. The platform carries modular, heavy payloads, building on Archer's air taxi development and flight testing.

Adam Goldstein, Founder and CEO of Archer, said: "This mission required a clean sheet design, built from the ground up to meet the needs of modern commercial and defense applications. We couldn't simply tweak our existing aircraft.” Goldstein added that the companies took a first-principles approach with Anduril to develop the aircraft.

Thunder's first flight is planned for 2027.