Archer Aviation Acquires Boeing Businesses Amid Rapid Expansion
Archer Aviation has made significant strides in its growth as an electric aircraft manufacturer. Founded by two tech entrepreneurs, Adam Goldstein and Brett Adcock, in California in 2018, Archer quickly attracted investors and industrial partners.
The company's main aircraft, Midnight, is still undergoing certification but has shown promise in flight testing. Archer announced a partnership with United Airlines to purchase up to 200 aircraft, with a $10 million pre-delivery payment made by the airline.
Archer also partnered with Stellantis, and went public through a merger with SPAC Atlas Crest Investment Corp in 2021. However, the company's early forecasts were aggressive, expecting FAA certification and commercial operations to begin in 2024. Despite missing these targets, Archer has continued to advance its certification program.
The company has also expanded into defense and autonomous aircraft development through partnerships with Anduril and Wisk Aero. In July 2026, Archer unveiled a hybrid VTOL platform being developed for military applications, called Thunder, and commercial missions, called Halo.