Archer Aviation Takes Control of Boeing's Autonomous Flight Assets

In a major deal, Archer Aviation has acquired three subsidiaries from Boeing: Wisk Aero, SkyGrid, and Insitu. This move marks a significant shift in the autonomous flight industry, with Archer gaining control of key assets and technology.

Wisk Aero is an electric aircraft company that has been flying for 16 years, with over 1,750 test flights completed. Insitu, on the other hand, is a highly profitable defense drone business, earning $200 million in annual revenue. The firm manufactures surveillance and reconnaissance drones for 35 nations.

The deal also includes SkyGrid, which aims to ensure autonomous aircraft can safely fly in shared airspace. Archer Aviation will develop an AI model using data from over two million flight hours provided by Boeing. In return, Boeing gains a 19.75% equity stake in Archer and access to the company's board.

This move is part of a broader pattern of subsidiary restructuring at Boeing, with four companies sold to Thoma Bravo last November for $10.55 billion. The sale includes Jeppesen ForeFlight, which combines industry-standard navigational charts with electronic flight bag apps and mobile planning.