Archer
Archer Aviation is a US-based aerospace company developing the all-electric Midnight eVTOL aircraft for short urban air taxi routes, serving commercial airlines, defense agencies, and international operating partners under an asset-light contract manufacturing model.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersSan Jose, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Archer does
Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE: ACHR) is a US-based aerospace company developing the Midnight electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for short-haul urban air mobility and defense applications. The aircraft is a fully electric vertical takeoff and landing platform designed for rapid back-to-back trips of approximately 10-50 miles at speeds approaching 150 mph, engineered to operate with significantly lower noise than conventional helicopters. The company is pre-commercial, reporting FY2025 revenue of approximately $300,000 and Q1 2026 revenue of $1.6 million while incurring net losses of $618.2 million in FY2025 and $217.7 million in Q1 2026, reflecting heavy investment in testing and certification rather than commercial operations.
Archer firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Archer
- Legal name
- Archer Aviation Inc.
- Website
- https://archer.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Archer Aviation is a US-based aerospace company developing the all-electric Midnight eVTOL aircraft for short urban air taxi routes, serving commercial airlines, defense agencies, and international operating partners under an asset-light contract manufacturing model.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Archer industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Electric Air Taxi Aircraft
- NAICS
- Aircraft Manufacturing (336411), Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413)
- SIC
- Aircraft (3721), Aircraft & Parts (3720)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Electric & Hybrid-Electric Propulsion (eVTOL/Regional) (IMABADAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Business & General Aviation Aircraft Manufacturing (IMABAAAC), Regional & Commuter Aircraft Manufacturing (IMABAAAD)
Keywords
Where Archer is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Jose
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Archer business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Aircraft sales to commercial airlines: Future primary revenue stream from direct aircraft sales to airline fleet operators, anchored by a conditional purchase agreement with United Airlines for up to $1 billion (plus a $500 million option), plus orders from Korean Air (up to 100 aircraft) and Japan Airlines, with an indicative order book approaching $6 billion including Future Flight Global.
- U.S. Department of Defense / U.S. Air Force contracts: Defense revenue from fixed-term contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense (partnership since 2021) including delivery of the Midnight aircraft to the U.S. Air Force under a contract valued at up to $142 million for reconnaissance and humanitarian mission applications.
- UAE / international commercial operations: Projected revenue stream from constrained commercial air taxi operations in Abu Dhabi under the UAE GCAA's Restricted Type Certificate framework in partnership with Abu Dhabi Aviation, plus emerging defense and pilot program revenue streams projected to generate $30–$60 million in 2026.
- Pilot program / eIPP U.S. operations revenue: Projected revenue from initial U.S. commercial operations beginning in 2026 through the White House eVTOL Integration Pilot Program across Texas, Florida, New York, and other states.
- U.K. Ministry of Defence hybrid aircraft program: Future revenue from a hybrid aircraft co-developed with Anduril selected by the U.K. Ministry of Defence for Project NYX, representing defense dual-use revenue potential.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | United Airlines conditional aircraft purchase agreement |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Korean Air aircraft purchase commitment |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Future Flight Global indicative order book |
| Other | Multi-year contract | U.S. Air Force delivery contract |
Go-to-market motion5 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels6 records
Archer product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Archer Aviation designs and develops electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, primarily the Midnight aircraft, intended for short urban air taxi flights at speeds approaching 150 mph over routes of roughly 10-50 miles. The company operates an asset-light model in which Stellantis serves as its exclusive contract manufacturer and sells aircraft to commercial airlines, government and defense customers, and international operating partners, with parallel consumer air taxi service planned under the LA28 Olympic Games and eIPP pilot programs.
Product overview
Archer Aviation operates a focused product architecture centered on its flagship Midnight electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, designed for short urban air taxi flights at speeds approaching 150 mph, alongside a parallel Archer Defense vertical-lift program that develops dual-use variants for military and security applications. The Midnight commercial aircraft (showcased on the /aircraft page) and the Defense program (housed at defense.archer.com) share underlying eVTOL technology and flight systems, with commercial certification (FAA four-phase Type Certification, progressing through Phase 4, plus a UAE GCAA Restricted Type Certificate) and defense applications forming the two principal go-to-market channels. Certification status, manufacturing partnerships (notably Stellantis for contract manufacturing), and infrastructure assets such as Hawthorne Airport in Los Angeles underpin both product lines.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Midnight: Archer's flagship electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft designed for short urban air taxi flights at speeds approaching 150 mph.
- Archer Defense
Products and services
- Midnight eVTOL Aircraft Archer's flagship all-electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft designed for short urban air taxi routes at speeds approaching 150 mph, with rapid back-to-back flight capability over 10-50 mile trips and significantly lower noise than conventional helicopters. The aircraft is the centerpiece of commercial air taxi service and the dual-use Archer Defense program.
- Archer Defense Dual-use vertical-lift program operated as a separate defense.archer.com subdomain, focused on defense, AI, and government applications of Archer's eVTOL technology. Includes the partnership with Anduril Industries, the U.K. Ministry of Defence's Project NYX hybrid aircraft, and ongoing U.S. Department of Defense work dating back to 2021.
Quantifiable outcome
- First U.S. eVTOL company to complete Phase 3 of the FAA's four-phase Type Certification process and achieve 100% Means of Compliance acceptance
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Archer
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Archer technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
AI capability2 records
Feature6 records
Archer partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Anduril IndustriesflagshipDual-use vertical-lift program partnership with Anduril focused on defense and AI applications. The Archer-Anduril hybrid aircraft was selected by the U.K. Ministry of Defence for Project NYX. Partnership expands Archer's defense revenue streams alongside U.S. Air Force and DoD contracts.
- Abu Dhabi AviationflagshipLocal operating partner for the launch of limited commercial air taxi operations in Abu Dhabi under the UAE GCAA Restricted Type Certificate framework, supported by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office's SAVI cluster initiative.
- Hawthorne Airport (Los Angeles)flagshipArcher acquired control of Hawthorne Airport in Los Angeles for $126 million to establish an air taxi hub, manufacturing facility, and testing ground for the Midnight eVTOL aircraft.
- StellantisflagshipStellantis serves as Archer's exclusive contract manufacturer for the Midnight eVTOL aircraft, with up to approximately $400 million contribution to support scaling to 650 aircraft annually. The partnership was expanded in early 2023 with up to $150 million in equity capital from Stellantis, plans to increase Stellantis's stake through future stock purchases, and a planned manufacturing facility in Georgia.
- United AirlinesflagshipEarly investor and customer; expanded partnership including equity participation alongside Stellantis in the $230 million raise. Subject to a separate conditional aircraft purchase agreement for up to $1 billion (plus $500 million option), conditional on FAA certification. United paid a $10 million pre-delivery payment.
- NVIDIAcoreTechnology partnership for AI integration into the Midnight aircraft and broader eVTOL platform, listed alongside Palantir and Starlink as a strategic AI and communications partner supporting Archer's defense dual-use applications.
- PalantircoreStrategic AI partnership listed alongside NVIDIA and Starlink as part of Archer's defense and dual-use technology stack supporting Midnight aircraft operations.
- Starlink (SpaceX)coreCollaboration leveraging Starlink satellite terminals for aircraft communications, aimed at accelerating FAA certification and improving operational efficiency through reliable connectivity and data analytics for the Midnight eVTOL aircraft.
- HoneywellcoreStrategic manufacturing and avionics partner for the Midnight aircraft, supporting component supply and certification.
- MolicelcoreBattery cell supplier and strategic partner supporting Midnight aircraft electric propulsion and energy storage systems.
- Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO)coreGovernment investment and ecosystem partner supporting Archer's UAE expansion through the SAVI cluster initiative and RTC program support.
- U.S. Air Force / U.S. Department of DefenseflagshipOngoing partnership since 2021 to develop eVTOL technology for defense applications including reconnaissance and humanitarian missions, including a delivery contract with the U.S. Air Force valued at up to $142 million.
- Signature AviationminorFixed-base operator (FBO) infrastructure partner preparing networks for Advanced Air Mobility with electric charging installations and electrical capacity upgrades; among multiple eVTOL developer partnerships.
- Saudi Arabia (eVTOL air mobility deal)coreArcher Aviation secured a significant eVTOL air mobility deal in Saudi Arabia as part of international expansion efforts.
- IndiGo (InterGlobe Aviation)minorPrevious non-binding partnership with IndiGo to launch air taxi services in India fell through due to timeline issues, with IndiGo subsequently investing in rival Sarla Aviation instead.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Archer competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Joby Aviation: Closest direct competitor in the U.S. eVTOL air taxi space, developing a piloted electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft for urban air mobility with its own FAA Type Certification program, Delta partnership, and conditional pre-orders. Directly comparable product category, target market, and business model.
- Beta Technologies: U.S. eVTOL developer with both a passenger (ALIA VTOL) and cargo aircraft, charging infrastructure network, and military/defense customers. Operates in the same urban air mobility and defense dual-use verticals with a similar FAA certification pathway.
- Vertical Aerospace: UK-based eVTOL developer building the VX4 electric vertical takeoff aircraft for urban air mobility, currently engaged in patent litigation with Archer. Operates in the same product category with overlapping airline customer base (e.g., Virgin Atlantic, American Airlines).
- Eve Air Mobility: Embraer-backed eVTOL developer building the Eve eVTOL for urban air mobility, with significant orders from United Airlines, Republic Airways, and others. A near-direct competitor targeting the same airport-to-city-center use case and airline customer segment.
- Wisk Aero: Boeing-owned autonomous eVTOL developer focused on self-flying air taxi service, directly addressing the same urban air mobility market with an emphasis on autonomous operations rather than piloted flights.
- Volocopter: German eVTOL developer of the VoloCity and larger VoloRegion aircraft, with planned commercial operations in Paris (initially for the 2024 Olympics) and other cities — overlapping urban air mobility use cases and competing for similar European and Middle Eastern launch cities.
- EHang: Chinese autonomous eVTOL developer with the EH216-S, already type-certified in China and operating commercial air tourism and short-haul routes. A comparable eVTOL manufacturer with overlapping urban air mobility use cases and a competing international expansion trajectory.
- Lilium GmbH (insolvent): German eVTOL developer of the Lilium Jet whose insolvency led to the sale of ~300 patents to Archer for €18M. A former direct peer whose intellectual property is now part of Archer's portfolio, illustrating the high capital intensity of the space and the risk profile facing standalone eVTOL developers.
Broad incumbents
- Airbus: Global aerospace incumbent developing the CityAirbus NextGen eVTOL and exploring urban air mobility, while also serving as a broad Tier-1 supplier ecosystem participant. Represents the established-aviation competitive backdrop and potential partner/acquirer for eVTOL specialists.
- Embraer: Global regional aircraft manufacturer and parent of Eve Air Mobility, providing a direct incumbent link to Archer's customer base (commercial airlines) and competing across commercial aviation and emerging eVTOL segments through its Eve subsidiary.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Archer social profiles
Digital presenceArcher financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Archer leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Archer subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Archer funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds10 records
Investors23 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Archer M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A3 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Archer
What does Archer do?
Archer Aviation designs and develops electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, primarily the Midnight aircraft, intended for short urban air taxi flights at speeds approaching 150 mph over routes of roughly 10-50 miles. The company operates an asset-light model in which Stellantis serves as its exclusive contract manufacturer and sells aircraft to commercial airlines, government and defense customers, and international operating partners, with parallel consumer air taxi service planned under the LA28 Olympic Games and eIPP pilot programs.
Is Archer a public or private company?
Archer is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Archer founded?
Archer was founded in 2020. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Archer based?
Archer is headquartered in San Jose, United States, in the North America region.
How does Archer make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Aircraft sales to commercial airlines are the primary driver. The others are U.S. Department of Defense / U.S. Air Force contracts, UAE / international commercial operations, pilot program / eIPP U.S. operations revenue and U.K. Ministry of Defence hybrid aircraft program.
Who are Archer's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Joby Aviation, Beta Technologies, Vertical Aerospace, Eve Air Mobility, Wisk Aero, Volocopter, EHang and Lilium GmbH (insolvent). Broad incumbents are Airbus and Embraer.
Does Archer have an API?
No public API is recorded for Archer.
What industry is Archer in?
Archer's product category is Electric Air Taxi Aircraft. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABADAH, Electric & Hybrid-Electric Propulsion (eVTOL/Regional), with a secondary code of IMABAAAC, Business & General Aviation Aircraft Manufacturing. Its NAICS code is 336411 and its SIC code is 3721.