Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE: ACHR) and The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) have signed definitive agreements for Archer to acquire Boeing’s Wisk Aero, SkyGrid, and Insitu subsidiaries.
The deal combines decades of complementary capabilities in autonomy, electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, and unmanned aircraft systems into a single aerospace and defense platform.
The transaction adds a profitable defense business generating over $200 million in annual revenue, with operations spanning 35 countries, to Archer’s existing portfolio.
The three acquired companies bring nearly two million combined flight hours, providing a deep autonomy foundation for Archer’s ZEE artificial intelligence platform.
Wisk Aero is the only company to have designed, built, and flown six generations of eVTOL aircraft, completing more than 1,700 flight tests with Boeing’s backing over several years.
SkyGrid contributes aircraft-agnostic air traffic management software to the deal, while Insitu strengthens Archer’s unmanned aircraft systems capabilities across defense markets.
Under a separate technology-sharing arrangement, Boeing will retain access to Wisk’s autonomous flight systems for its current and next-generation commercial and defense aircraft programs.
Boeing will also maintain exposure to Archer through its existing ownership stake while refocusing its broader investment strategy toward core aerospace operations.
CEO Adam Goldstein described the agreement as “a watershed moment for Archer and the future of physical AI in aerospace and defense.”
Brian Yutko, Boeing vice president of Commercial Airplanes Product Development, said, “This transaction is a win-win for Boeing and Archer,” adding it “allows Wisk, SkyGrid and Insitu to accelerate capability development and time to market while ensuring Boeing capitalizes on its investments in these technologies over the past two decades.”
The deal accelerates a defense pivot Archer began in late 2024, when it partnered with Anduril to build a hybrid VTOL military aircraft and raised $430 million in financing.
Last month, Archer and Anduril jointly unveiled Thunder, an autonomous VTOL aircraft designed for both defense and commercial missions.
Archer began piloted operations of its flagship Midnight aircraft last year and holds the exclusive air taxi contract for the 2028 LA Olympics.
The companies did not disclose financial terms for the acquisition, which remains subject to Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act regulatory approval requirements.
Archer expects the transaction to close by the end of 2026, with Moelis and Company advising Archer and JPMorgan Chase advising Boeing on the deal.
Archer shares rose 20% following the announcement, reflecting investor enthusiasm for the company’s transformation into a broader aerospace and defense technology platform.
