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This all-American eVTOL is going to the UK for specific tests related to its potential use in both civil and defense applications. The upcoming tests are the next phase in a strategic collaboration between Archer and Anduril Industries UK, with a helping hand from two other industry experts: Skyports Drone Services and AtkinsRealis.
Archer’s Midnight aircraft will become the platform for a bold project in the UK aimed at exploring and advancing BVLOS (beyond visual line of sight) operations in both civil and defense sectors. The aircraft itself will be adapted for dual use, and the initial tests will focus on cargo operations. Once this initial phase is successfully completed, the project team will move to surveillance operations and search-and-rescue.
Skyports Drone Services has joined the project as the main infrastructure partner. It’s linked to some of the biggest BVLOS campaigns in the UK, including the 2024 Royal Navy Heavy Lift Challenge. By joining this partnership with Archer and Anduril, this infrastructure expert will be able to take a leap in terms of testing, from drones to bigger and more advanced eVTOLs.
AtkinsRealis, the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) ‘s first approved assessor of commercial drones, will provide safety systems expertise.
Anduril Industries is the one bringing Archer to the UK market. Separate from this dual-use project using the Midnight eVTOL, the two are also working on developing a hybrid VTOL military aircraft. This particular collaboration was announced in December last year when Archer confirmed that the partnership’s first product would be a hybrid-propulsion VTOL aircraft specifically targeting applications for the US DoD (Department of Defense).
On the other hand, this testing campaign for dual-use applications of the Midnight aircraft is tailored to the specific requirements and needs of the UK market, both civil and military.
Archer is primarily known as one of the very few eVTOL companies that are backed by auto giants. With support from Stellantis, Archer has become one of the top eVTOL makers worldwide, and it continues to expand. The Midnight aircraft will be produced at a new facility in Covington, Georgia, with an initial capacity of 650 units per year and an estimated capacity of up to 2,000 aircraft per year after the facility is expanded.
Archer’s flagship aircraft is a four-seat air taxi boasting a 20-mile (32 km) range on a single charge and a maximum speed of 150 mph (241 kph). It features an all-electric powertrain, 12 small propellers, and an innovative cabin that’s based on sustainable and natural materials.
Archer’s top customers so far include prestigious names such as United Airlines in the US and Air Chateau in the UAE, with pre-orders worth hundreds of millions. The UAE is also the first early adopter market for the Midnight air taxi.
