Archer Goes All-In on Defense: Two Strategic Acquisitions Signal Big Military eVTOL Ambitions

Archer Aviation (NYSE: ACHR) is sharpening its edge in the defense aviation race with two strategic acquisitions aimed at fast-tracking development of its hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft for military applications.

Following last year’s splashy partnership with Anduril Industries, Archer is now layering in critical technology, talent, and manufacturing muscle—all to meet rising global demand for next-gen autonomous military systems.

“The Administration has made it clear: Leading in advanced aviation in both commercial and defense is a national priority. These acquisitions are part of our commitment—we’re working to accelerate our product development to meet our country’s needs.” – Adam Goldstein, founder and CEO of Archer 

Tapping Tiltrotor Talent from Overair

First up: Archer has acquired a patent portfolio and key engineering talent from Overair, the Southern California-based Karem Aircraft spin-off known for its work on high-efficiency tiltrotors. It’s a savvy move that gives Archer access to tech DNA developed for DARPA and the U.S. Army, now redirected toward their evolving defense platform.

Bringing in experts from Overair strengthens Archer’s ability to deliver on its partnership with Anduril—a collaboration focused on developing autonomous, hybrid-powered VTOL aircraft purpose-built for military operations. (see the eVTOL buzz article: Why Archer chose Palantir to integrate AI from the ground up into the sky: click here)

Full Control of Composite Manufacturing

Archer is taking production in-house with the acquisition of Mission Critical Composites’ 60,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Huntington Beach, CA. The facility, along with critical composite tooling and assets, positions Archer to rapidly prototype and iterate defense airframes with increased agility.

This move vertically integrates key fabrication capabilities, reducing reliance on outside vendors and streamlining Archer’s ability to deliver military-grade hardware at speed.

Mission Critical Composites

• Based in Huntington Beach, California
• Aerospace company specializing in:
  • Composites, Compositing, Layup, Prepeg, Plying, Kitting,
  • Complex Structures,
  • Hardware, Honeycomb, Commercial Space, Composite Lamination,
  • Crew Capsules, and Composite Rocket structures

Timing is Everything

The announcements land as the U.S. Department of Defense pushes deeper into autonomy, with the Pentagon requesting $13.4 billion in its 2025 budget for autonomous military systems. Archer’s positioning couldn’t be better—its dual-track focus on hybrid-electric propulsion and autonomy lines up perfectly with the DoD’s future operating concepts.

And the company isn’t short on fuel to drive this expansion. Following its December 2024 defense pivot, Archer secured $1.3 billion in capital—including $300 million specifically earmarked for defense projects.

What It Means for the Industry

Archer’s latest moves underscore a broader trend: eVTOL platforms are no longer just about urban air mobility—they’re increasingly a strategic national asset. With Anduril’s battle-tested autonomy stack and Archer’s growing technical bench, the hybrid VTOL they’re building could be a serious contender for future military procurements.

And in a space where traditional defense primes and Silicon Valley upstarts are colliding, Archer is making it clear—it’s not just along for the ride. It’s here to lead.

Stay tuned to eVTOLBuzz for more on Archer’s defense roadmap and the growing convergence of dual-use eVTOL platforms.

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eVTOL buzz article: Why Archer chose Palantir to integrate AI from the ground up into the sky: click here

More info:

Archer Aviation’s official press release: click here