The Pentagon's electric aircraft spending is tilting toward hybrid propulsion and autonomy, and Archer Aviation has aligned its acquisition strategy to match that shift faster than rival Joby Aviation.
The contracts tell the story
Archer's Agility Prime agreement with the U.S. Air Force carries a ceiling of $142 million. The company handed over its first Midnight airframe to the service in 2024 after securing a military airworthiness assessment, and the platform is being tested for personnel transport, logistics, medical evacuation, and intelligence missions. Joby's parallel Air Force deal tops out at $131 million with up to nine aircraft slated for delivery, and the company has flown at Edwards Air Force Base while advancing autonomous flight work.
The program changed direction
In 2025 the Defense Department redirected Agility Prime toward hybrid-electric designs and autonomous systems, trimming the scope of Joby's existing contract. Joby responded by accelerating its own autonomy development, chasing additional government awards including a tie-up with L3Harris, and agreeing to buy defense contractor Resonant Sciences for roughly $500 million. Resonant brings more than $100 million in trailing revenue and active national-security programs spanning advanced sensing, electronic warfare, communications, autonomous systems, and low-observability technology. Once the deal closes, Resonant will operate as Joby's dedicated defense division.
Archer moved earlier on the new priority
Archer had already partnered with Anduril to build a hybrid-electric autonomous platform. In July the pair revealed Thunder, a Group 5 aircraft purpose-built for military missions. Unlike the all-electric Midnight, Thunder's hybrid powertrain extends range and endurance, and its modular payload bay swaps sensors or cargo depending on the sortie.
The Boeing deal adds scale
In August Archer struck an agreement to acquire Boeing's Insitu, Wisk Aero, and SkyGrid units. Insitu alone contributes more than $200 million in yearly revenue, and the trio would dramatically broaden Archer's aerospace, defense, and autonomy portfolio.
Caveats remain
The $142 million Air Force figure is a maximum, not a guarantee, and Thunder is an unproven platform. Joby's longstanding military ties and autonomy roadmap could still yield further awards. For now, though, Archer's structure mirrors where the Pentagon has said it wants to go.