The US Air Force has just signed up to buy a bunch of Midnight eVTOLs from Archer Aviation.
The $142 million deal will include six of Archer’s Midnight eVTOL – ‘electric vertical takeoff and landing’ aircraft.
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“This historic agreement reflects the steadfast commitment by our Armed Forces to embrace the cutting-edge technology our eVTOL aircraft offer,” CEO of Archer, Adam Goldstein, said.
The US military says it plans to use the Midnight for “rapid response” missions and rescue operations.
The Midnight is a powerful aircraft too.
It’s expected to be capable of transporting over 1,000 pounds.
It’s also designed to do back-to-back 20-mile trips with a charge time of just 10 minutes.
Its 2,000 feet cruising altitude and 12 small propellors (instead of one giant rotor) also mean the sound of an electric motor is only 45 decibels by the time they reach civilians – or the enemy – on the ground.
That’s 1,000 times quieter than a helicopter.
Don’t expect to see any of these aircraft anytime soon though.
While the company unveiled its five-seat Midnight electric air taxi last November, Archer is hoping to certify Midnight with the Federal Aviation Administration by the end of 2024.
The craft will then form a part of its urban air mobility network – a kind of urban air taxi service – launching in 2025.
Colonel Tom Meagher, the lead for AFWERX Agility Prime programs said “eVTOL aircraft represent the cusp of the third revolution in aerospace, and these aircraft and their descendants will drive advances in capabilities and efficiency”.
“Our contracts with Archer Aviation provide the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Air Force the opportunity to play a role in ensuring from the onset, and as the technology evolves, that we unlock the many benefits these aircraft have to offer the U.S. military,” he said.
A new government advisory board, hosted by six senior retired leaders from different branches of the U.S. military, was recently assembled by Archer.
The goal was to allow the company to “more fully engage with U.S. government and public safety agencies to explore opportunities to commercialize its eVTOL aircraft”.
The company also recently hired former acting administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, Billy Nolen, as its chief safety officer.
