Flying Taxis? Nah, We're Talking Flying Tanks Now!
Image Credit: Archer Aviation.
Just yesterday, we were all excited about the prospect of flying taxis whisking us away from rush hour traffic. Remember? Now, things just got a whole lot more interesting in the world of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft. Archer Aviation, the company that promised us those futuristic air taxis in the first place, has decided to take a detour into the wild world of military tech. And no, they're not delivering pizzas to soldiers on the front lines.
They've teamed up with Anduril Industries, a defense company that sounds like it was named by someone who spends a little too much time playing Dungeons & Dragons. Together, they're creating "Archer Defense," which I can only assume is their attempt to make the Pentagon sound like a trendy nightclub. Their goal? To build a VTOL aircraft for the Department of Defense that's cheaper than a used Apache.
Image Credit: Archer Aviation.
Wait, isn't Anduril that company that makes those creepy AI-powered surveillance drones? Yes, it is! In fact, Anduril has some serious tech chops. They've even partnered with OpenAI, the masterminds behind ChatGPT, and Palantir, the AI company that makes the NSA look like a bunch of amateurs.
So, what can we expect from this unholy alliance of commercial aviation and military might? They're keeping the details a bit hush-hush, but we do know that their first project is a hybrid-propulsion VTOL aircraft. That means it'll probably have some sort of electric motor combined with a good old-fashioned internal combustion engine. It makes sense because a "stealthy military operation" with a roar of a gasoline engine just doesn't work well.
Archer has already proven they can build some pretty impressive electric aircraft. And with Anduril's expertise in AI and system integration, who knows what kind of futuristic capabilities this thing will have? Maybe it'll be able to fly itself, dodge enemy fire, and order takeout all at the same time.
Image Credit: Archer Aviation.
Of course, the real question is: how much is this flying marvel going to cost? Archer and Anduril claim it'll be significantly cheaper than traditional military aircraft. But "significantly cheaper" in the world of defense contracting could still mean a price tag that would make your eyes water. I mean, have you seen the cost of a fighter jet these days?
It seems we are about to see more and more commercial technologies making their way into the military sector. Self-driving tanks, drone-delivered rations, and AI-powered battle strategies - the lot. It all starts to feel like a real-life video game, except for, you know, actual consequences.
I'm not saying I'm completely on board with this whole militarization of VTOL aicraft thing. But I have to admit, the idea of a sneakily quiet aircraft is pretty darn cool.
Image Credit: Archer Aviation.
While Archer Aviation is partnering with defense companies, they're also raking in the dough from some pretty big names. Stellantis, United Airlines, Wellington Management, and 2PointZero have all poured money into Archer, bringing their total funding to almost $2 billion.
With all that cash, Archer can afford to take some risks, like, you know, building something for the DOD. And they've got the experience to back it up. They've already developed the Midnight, an electric VTOL aircraft that can carry four passengers and travel up to 150 miles on a single charge. It's basically a flying minivan, but way, way cooler.
The future of aviation is looking more and more like something out of a science fiction movie. We've got flying taxis, electric military aircraft, and who knows what else is on the horizon.
