Archer is targeting commercial air-taxi certification by the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as it expands into defense with Anduril’s Thunder autonomous aircraft.
Anduril and Archer Aviation unveiled Thunder, an autonomous vertical takeoff and landing aircraft for defense missions built on their jointly developed dual-use platform, while Archer said it remains focused on certifying its commercial air taxis by the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Archer CEO Adam Goldstein said certification has taken longer than expected as the industry works through regulatory and infrastructure hurdles, though recent testing under President Donald Trump's eVTOL pilot program across 26 states is helping build trust with the public and regulators. Goldstein also said defense has become a significant opportunity for Archer, particularly because military applications do not require the same certification process as commercial aircraft. Archer shares rose more than 12% after the announcement.