Anduril and Archer unveil Thunder autonomous tilt‑rotor attack aircraft

At the 2026 Farnborough International Airshow, defense technology firm Anduril Industries and electric‑air‑taxi developer Archer Aviation announced a jointly‑developed autonomous aircraft platform. The defence variant, named Thunder, is a Group 5 tilt‑rotor rotorcraft that combines a series‑hybrid‑electric powertrain with vertical‑take‑off‑and‑landing capability and variable‑speed rotors. Its modular payload bays can carry up to ten air‑to‑ground missiles, sixteen launched effects, seventy‑six 70 mm rockets or a mix of electronic‑warfare and counter‑drone munitions. Designed to operate as a “loyal wingman” alongside crewed attack helicopters such as the Apache, Thunder aims to multiply combat firepower while reducing pilot exposure. The aircraft can be packed into a standard shipping container for rapid deployment and is slated for its first flight in 2027. A commercial version, intended for heavy‑payload logistics and other non‑military missions, will be unveiled later in the week. The partnership leverages Archer’s eVTOL experience and Anduril’s autonomous‑flight technology to create a dual‑use platform that could reshape both military strike capabilities and advanced‑air‑mobility markets.