Archer Aviation Acquires Three Boeing Businesses Including Autonomous eVTOL Developer Wisk
Why It MattersThe deal pulls autonomous eVTOL technology and a profitable drone business into Archer's air-taxi push, potentially reshaping cost structures across the eVTOL segment.
Archer Aviation has acquired three businesses from Boeing — Wisk, an eVTOL designer; SkyGrid, an air-traffic-management software maker; and Insitu, a drone builder — in exchange for 19.75% of Archer's pre-close share count plus two warrants for $100 million of stock each.
Insitu currently generates approximately $200 million in annual revenue and is profitable, a sharp contrast to Archer's second-quarter revenue of approximately $5 million, and its cash flow is expected to help fund Archer's operations in the near term.
Wisk is developing eVTOLs designed for autonomous, pilotless flight, unlike Archer's own Midnight aircraft, which requires a human pilot. A 2024 academic study estimated that autonomous eVTOL operations could reduce operating costs by approximately 27% compared with piloted flights, mainly by eliminating pilot costs.
Archer does not yet hold FAA-type certification for its eVTOL aircraft, and its long-term goal remains operating an air taxi service between vertiports in major cities. Its current market capitalization is approximately $4 billion.
