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 worth up to $142 million with the U.S. Air Force to supply up to six Midnight eVTOL aircraft, signaling significant military investment in the technology.
The Air Force's AFWERX Agility Prime program intends to deploy Archer's Midnight eVTOLs for defense applications, including personnel transport, logistics, and rescue, positioning them as a potential quieter alternative to helicopters.
Archer Aviation is simultaneously pursuing aggressive commercialization, aiming for FAA certification by 2025 to launch air taxi services with partners like United Airlines, supported by a new high-volume manufacturing facility.

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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.