Today's Edition
A. SREENIVASA REDDY (ABU DHABI)
Archer Aviation is supplying its proprietary dual-use electric powertrain technology to Anduril’s newly unveiled Omen Autonomous Air Vehicle system, marking the first time the company has made its advanced propulsion system available to a third party.
Omen — a hover-to-cruise autonomous aircraft being co-developed by Anduril and EDGE Group in the UAE — will use Archer’s aviation-grade electric powertrain, the same technology used in its Midnight eVTOL aircraft.
Speaking to Aletihad, Archer Aviation CEO Adam Goldstein said the move represents a major milestone for the company. “We’ve invested heavily in developing a proprietary, best-in-class electric powertrain that's highly optimised for commercial and defence aviation use cases,” he said. “Our strategic decision to vertically integrate the design and manufacturing of both our battery packs and electric engines has resulted in a solution that meets the rigorous standards of safety, performance, and reliability.”
Goldstein said the uniqueness of Archer’s system stems from its years-long focus on powertrain engineering, supported by large-scale production infrastructure. Archer manufactures the Midnight powertrain across nearly one million square feet of facilities in the United States. “We concentrated our engineering resources on developing the vehicle's electric powertrain from day one,” he said. “We're applying automation to key areas to ensure reliable production at scale.”
He noted that the powertrain’s attributes are particularly compelling for defence applications. “The transformation of military strategy has created new demand for electric and hybrid-electric systems, and defence tech companies are benefiting from technologies originally conceived for urban air mobility,” he said.
The agreement with Anduril, he added, is the company’s first commercial technology-supply deal. “This marks the first time we will make our proprietary, advanced powertrain technology available to a third party. We've had several other third parties interested, but this is the first instance where we said it makes sense from our perspective,” he said. “We're being selective — it adds significant work for the engineering team, so it's got to be worth it. In this case, the size of the opportunity and our pre-existing partnership with Anduril on our hybrid-electric aircraft project made it the right first deal.”
Archer views the commercialisation of its powertrain as an expansion of its core business rather than a spin-off. “While most see Midnight as an aircraft, we view it as a platform that plays host to a wide range of new and exciting aerospace technologies that will be leveraged way beyond our own aircraft,” Goldstein said. “This expansion opens up a new, high-upside revenue stream, but we're staying focused on air-taxi certification and operations.”
On competitive risks, Goldstein was emphatic that Archer’s intellectual property is well protected. “We’ve built strong protection for our technology,” he said. “We recently acquired Lilium’s patent portfolio, expanding our global IP portfolio to over 1,000 assets, giving us one of the most robust patent portfolios in the industry.” This includes next-generation technology in ducted fans, high-voltage systems, flight controls, electric engines, and propellers. “We intend to remain selective to protect our competitive position,” he added.
Goldstein also addressed the certification journey of the Midnight aircraft, which is undergoing parallel regulatory processes in the UAE and the United States. “We're taking a measured, progressive approach where each phase of testing and deployment informs the next,” he said. “We're working hand-in-hand with both the GCAA-UAE and FAA-US, and both regulators are closely tracking all progress we're making with Midnight.”
Archer has completed several key flight-test milestones, including a 55-mile piloted flight lasting 31 minutes at speeds exceeding 126 mph, and test flights reaching altitudes of 7,000 and 10,000 feet. The company also showcased Midnight at the California International Airshow, where tens of thousands witnessed the aircraft’s low-noise profile.
In the UAE, Goldstein said Midnight successfully completed its initial in-country test campaign, demonstrating its full eVTOL envelope — vertical takeoff, transition, and wing-borne flight — under desert conditions. “These tests were conducted in close coordination with the GCAA, Integrated Transport Centre, and Abu Dhabi Aviation,” he said. “We designed Midnight to handle challenging environments like the UAE with its sand and heat, and it delivered the results we expected across all phases of flight.”
Archer has also begun receiving payments under its definitive agreement with Abu Dhabi Aviation, and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) has activated Archer’s investment framework. “We’re moving into the next phase of our Launch Edition programme: recruiting and training local pilots with Etihad Aviation Training, advancing certification work with GCAA, conducting additional test flights with Abu Dhabi Aviation,” Goldstein said. He added that the company aims to begin early passenger services in Abu Dhabi “in the near future”.
In the US, Archer has “substantially completed phase 3 of the FAA’s Type Cert program” and is making progress on the final stage.
