Archer Delivers First Midnight eVTOL to the U.S. Air Force
The aircraft was delivered to the USAF for evaluation as part of Archer’s AFWERX Agility Prime contract, which is valued at up to $142 million.
(Santa Clara, California) Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle developer Archer Aviation Inc. announced today that it delivered its first Midnight eVTOL aircraft to the U.S. Air Force for evaluation as part of Archer’s AFWERX Agility Prime contract, which is valued at up to $142 million.
Photo courtesy of Archer Aviation.
Per Archer, following the recent delivery-in-place handoff at Archer’s flight test facility in Salinas, CA, a team of USAF personnel worked alongside Archer’s flight test team to ramp flight operations of the aircraft. Together, the Archer and USAF teams executed simulated medical evacuation, cargo, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance flights.
"This delivery represents a pivotal moment not only for Archer but for the future of military aviation," said Archer CEO Adam Goldstein. "Together, our goal is to
prove Midnight’s potential and ensure the United States continues to lead the way with the world’s most advanced technology.
Col Elliott Leigh, AFWERX Director and Chief Commercialization Officer for the Department of the Air Force, commented: "Archer’s Midnight aircraft has the potential to significantly enhance our operational capabilities. 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."
Today’s press release from Archer explains that Archer’s Midnight eVTOL is expected to provide a safer, more cost-effective and quieter alternative to existing internal combustion engine options; as such, it holds the promise of enhancing rapid response, agility and operational effectiveness across a wide range of mission profiles.
Per the Air Force Research Lab’s description, AFWERX Agility Prime is the U.S. Air Force’s transformative vertical lift program by which the Air Force partners with the commercial industry to “propel the third revolution in aerospace and field a new class of air mobility systems.”
According to the Agility Prime overview, the Air Force seeks to build a domestic industrial base for an aerospace market estimated to reach $1 trillion in value by 2040
