Archer Gets Two Big Orders For Its Electric Aircraft

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I wrote the opposite day about Archer Aviation getting ready for electric air taxi service in Los Angeles and San Francisco for the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympics. A month prior, we wrote about Stellantis (the giant automaker) investing $55 million into Archer. However information from Archer is transferring on shortly. The most recent bulletins from the previous few days are that Archer has landed two large orders — one large in quantity, and one large due to who the customer is and what that might imply down the road.

116 Archer Electrical Plane Ordered

Future Flight International signed an settlement with Archer and plans to buy 116 electric “Midnight” aircraft from Archer. That’s a deliberate buy totaling $580 million.

“Along with this MOU, Future Flight Global made an initial deposit, and the MOU sets out nearly $5M in pre-delivery payments to be paid upon the completion of the parties’ definitive aircraft purchase agreement,” Archer writes. “Future Flight Global was founded by members of the leadership team at Titan Aviation which has been operating business jets worldwide for over two decades. This aircraft purchase is planned to support the companies’ joint launch of electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft operations in key global markets.”

Now, right here’s a giant assertion: this newest giant order takes Archer’s “indicative order book” to $6 billion. In fact, these orders had been made very early, are conditional, and are estimates primarily based on a wide range of components and assumptions.

Markets the place Future Flight International (FFG) plans to roll out electrical air taxis with Archer embrace Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Center East.

“The aviation industry is on the cusp of its most exciting revolution in decades,” says Karan Singh, CEO and Founding father of FFG. “We’re partnering with Archer to provide tailored, flexible aviation services to our top clients in some of the world’s most exciting destinations. Midnight’s versatility makes it well-suited to diverse routes and mission profiles, while also providing a world-class experience and operational efficiency that’s attractive to our corporate clients.”

“This new agreement both grows our prospective order book to nearly $6B, and opens up Archer’s global reach to premium international markets,” says Andrew Cummins, Director of Enterprise Improvement at Archer. “As our first private aviation partner, and with their deep ties in aviation and bold approach, FFG is positioned to be a new leader in modern aviation. Partnering with Karan and the team at FFG was an obvious choice and an ideal relationship for Archer.”

United States Air Power Orders from Archer, Too

When the US Air Power or Military buys from you, man, you’re in a great place. If they’re proud of their order, you may be set for all times promoting that product to them on an ongoing foundation. So, I positively took notice after I noticed that the USA Air Power additionally simply signed an order settlement with Archer.

It’s not for 116 electrical plane, but it surely’s a begin. Nonetheless, it’s gone past the order stage (in a approach). Archer has delivered principally a take a look at automobile to the Air Power. They’re going to consider it, and if all seems good, increase, bam, ca-ching. The “AFWERX Agility Prime” contract because it stands is for as much as $142 million value of plane. Nonetheless, if the Air Power is completely happy sufficient with the Midnight to order $142 million value, it might order much more than that.

“The delivery comes after the U.S. Department of Defense accepted Midnight’s military airworthiness assessment, a critical approval that confirms Midnight’s readiness for flight testing by AFWERX. This allows AFWERX to conduct government-directed testing of the aircraft for the U.S. Air Force and validate operational and military-specific mission concepts,” Archer writes. “A team of USAF personnel worked alongside Archer’s flight test team to ramp up operations with Midnight at Salinas. Together, these teams executed simulated medical evacuation, cargo, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance flights.”

“Archer’s Midnight aircraft has the potential to significantly enhance our operational capabilities,” mentioned Col. Elliott Leigh, AFWERX Director and Chief Commercialization Officer for the Division of the Air Power. “We look forward to continuing our work with our industry partners as we explore the ways that this advanced aircraft can contribute to the mission.”

May Archer’s electrical vertical takeoff and touchdown (eVTOL) plane grow to be a staple of the US Air Power? We’ll see.

Associated story: Southwest Airlines & Archer Aviation to Develop Operational Concepts for Electric Air Taxi Network

Featured picture courtesy of Archer Aviation