Electric air taxis go to war - The Verge

What the report says

The Verge reports that Archer Aviation has introduced Thunder, a hybrid vertical takeoff and landing aircraft developed with Anduril, the defense technology company founded by Palmer Luckey. The aircraft was unveiled Monday at the Farnborough International Airshow in Hampshire, England. Archer, based in San Jose, is known for its Midnight electric air taxi, but Thunder is aimed at defense and other hard-to-reach operational uses as the electric aviation sector looks beyond urban passenger service.

According to The Verge, Thunder is designed as a fully autonomous attack rotorcraft that could operate alongside crewed military aircraft. Its appearance is described as blending elements of Archer’s Midnight aircraft with features associated with military VTOL platforms such as the V-22 Osprey. Archer also said it expects to show a commercial version of the aircraft later in the week.

A key difference from Midnight is the power system: Thunder uses a series hybrid powertrain rather than relying only on batteries. Archer said the hybrid approach is meant to extend range while allowing precise power management across flight conditions. The company identified possible uses including strikes, cargo transport, remote logistics and missions in difficult terrain or locations.

The Verge frames the announcement as part of a wider shift among air taxi companies toward military partnerships and hybrid designs while commercial passenger services remain limited by regulatory approvals. The report notes Archer lost $217.7 million in the first quarter of 2026 on revenue of $1.6 million, and has said it hopes to begin air taxi service as soon as 2026, likely first in Abu Dhabi. Archer previously agreed to license eVTOL technology to Anduril and has delivered a Midnight aircraft to the U.S. Air Force for evaluation.