Anduril Industries and Archer Aviation pulled the curtain back on a jointly developed autonomous VTOL aircraft at Farnborough, England on July 20. The platform is designed to serve both commercial and defense missions, with the military variant carrying the name Thunder, a Group 5 autonomous attack rotorcraft.
What they actually built
The aircraft uses a series hybrid-electric powertrain paired with a dual tiltrotor design, optimized for range, speed, payload capacity, and a low acoustic signature.
The platform is designed to operate from austere locations, meaning it doesn’t need a proper airstrip. For military applications, that’s forward operating bases with minimal infrastructure. For commercial use, that’s rooftops, parking lots, and improvised landing pads.
Several full-scale surrogate test flights have already been completed. The first flight of the actual production aircraft is planned for 2027.
