California's Anduril and Archer Aviation join forces to build muscular attack drones

Key Points:

• Anduril Industries and Archer Aviation have jointly unveiled Thunder, an autonomous hybrid-electric attack aircraft designed for both defense and commercial use, showcased at the Farnborough International Airshow.
• Thunder features vertical takeoff and landing, can carry missiles or cargo, and is designed to operate both above 18,000 feet and close to the ground alongside human-piloted military vehicles, with a targeted first flight in 2027.
• The aircraft's autonomy is powered by Anduril’s Lattice software, enabling safe and predictable operation around crewed aircraft, while Archer plans to announce commercial customers for the civilian variant soon.
• Archer’s shares surged over 20% following the announcement, despite a 34% decline earlier this year, as the company seeks to leverage its air taxi technology and enter the defense sector amid competition and legal battles with rival Joby.
• The partnership aims to create a powerful vertical-lift platform, though it raises concerns among public safety advocates due to the advancement of autonomous military technology and its implications for crowded airspace and combat scenarios.