Archer Aviation Inc., a leader in electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, today announced that this past Friday it showcased its Midnight electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to a group of leaders from the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC). The visit from the USMC comes on the heels of Archer’s announcement last week of its industry leading deal with the U.S Air Force valued at up to $142M. The visit is an indication of the growing interest in Archer’s Midnight aircraft across the U.S. military. Archer is working closely with the members of its Government Services Advisory Board to more fully engage with U.S. government and public safety agencies around the country to explore opportunities to commercialize its eVTOL aircraft.
With Archer recently completing the manufacturing of its first Midnight aircraft, Department of Defense personnel have indicated they recognize that with its vertical takeoff and landing capabilities, target payload of approximately 1,000lbs, proprietary electric powertrain system, and low noise profile, Archer’s aircraft represents a potential paradigm shift in military aviation and operations. These aircraft hold the promise of enhancing rapid response, agility, and operational effectiveness across a wide range of mission profiles, from personnel transport and logistics support to rescue operations and more.
“The low cost, low noise, high safety nature of Archer’s Midnight makes it a very compelling aircraft for all branches of the U.S. military to integrate into their fleet,” said Retired 2-Star General and Archer Government Services Advisory Board Member, Clay Hutmacher. “We continue to see increasing interest in the capabilities of eVTOL aircraft across the military.” General Hutmacher retired in 2018 from the United States Army having served more than 40 years. He was an Army Special Operations Aviator who commanded at every level during his three tours with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. His last active-duty assignment was the Director of Operations in the U.S. Special Operations Command in Tampa, Florida.
Archer’s Midnight aircraft are expected to provide a much safer and quieter alternative to helicopters while being more cost-effective for the U.S. military to transport, operate and maintain in the field. Archer is designing and developing electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft for use in urban air mobility networks. Archer’s mission is to unlock the skies, freeing everyone to reimagine how they move and spend time. Archer’s team is based in Santa Clara, CA.
