Archer Aviation Scoops Up Boeing's Drone and Air-Taxi Units

Archer Aviation has made a significant move in the aviation industry by acquiring three units from Boeing, including Wisk Aero, Insitu, and SkyGrid. The deal is expected to close by the end of 2026 pending an antitrust review.

The acquisition brings Archer a profitable drone business with over $200 million in revenue annually, as well as a combat-proven reconnaissance drone portfolio used by 35 nations. Insitu's ScanEagle has fielded more than 3,500 systems worldwide.

Wisk Aero is the company behind the self-flying air taxi technology, with over 1,700 flight tests in sixteen years. The deal also includes SkyGrid, a ground-based air-traffic software that enables autonomous aircraft to share skies safely.

Boeing will retain an equity stake in Archer and take a seat on its board as part of the deal. This move marks a significant shift for Boeing, which has spent two decades investing in autonomy technology without carrying development risk.