Air Force Awards Archer $142 Million Contract for Midnight eVTOL

The Air Force’s AFWERX division will deploy up to six aircraft for personnel transport, logistics support, rescue operations, and more.

Jack Daleo

Monday, July 31, 2023 at 12:35 PM ET

Verified

The Air Force will deploy Archer’s Midnight eVTOL for personnel transport, rescue operations, and more. [Courtesy: Archer Aviation]

Key Takeaways:

Archer Aviation secured a landmark contract, valued at up to $142 million, with the U.S. Air Force to deliver up to six Midnight eVTOL aircraft for diverse defense applications.
The Air Force, through AFWERX Agility Prime, views eVTOLs like Midnight as a national priority, aiming to utilize them for personnel transport, logistics, and rescue, while accelerating their path to commercialization.
Archer's Midnight eVTOL is designed for urban air taxi services, with plans for commercial launch by 2025, supported by agreements with United Airlines for routes in major U.S. cities.
The company is solidifying its market position through ongoing FAA certification efforts, a robust manufacturing partnership with Stellantis, and strategic hires from regulatory bodies.

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The U.S. is hoping to launch air taxi routes at scale in time for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. But like many novel technologies, electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft may see their first action in the military.

In what appears to be one of the largest-ever contracts for an eVTOL manufacturer, San Jose, California-based Archer Aviation agreed to deliver as many as six Midnight aircraft to the U.S. Air Force in an agreement worth up to $142 million. Other military branches will be able to leverage the contracts for additional projects, which could see that number rise.