Archer Aviation has taken a significant step forward in the development of its next-generation dual-use VTOL aircraft through a new exclusive collaboration with Karem Aircraft. The agreement grants Archer access to key elements of Karem’s advanced, military-validated rotor and tiltrotor technologies—capabilities designed to strengthen Archer’s hybrid-propulsion vertical lift platform for both commercial and defence applications.

The partnership forms part of Archer’s wider strategy to modernise vertical lift operations across the U.S. and allied militaries. The company is developing an autonomous, long-range hybrid VTOL aircraft engineered for multi-mission use, combining modern aeromechanics, low acoustic and thermal signatures, and the performance required for operations in contested environments.

By pairing Karem’s tiltrotor expertise with intellectual property recently acquired from Overair and Lilium, Archer is assembling one of the most comprehensive technology portfolios in the next-generation VTOL sector. This integration is expected to support speed, range, payload capacity, and mission flexibility beyond the capabilities of legacy platforms.

Archer CEO Adam Goldstein said the collaboration is pivotal to accelerating development timelines:
“Integrating Karem’s Army-validated rotor systems into our next-gen platform positions us to move faster and deliver capabilities legacy systems can’t match.”

Abe Karem, founder of Karem Aircraft, noted that Archer’s dual-use vision aligns with Karem’s long-standing commitment to transformational rotorcraft innovation.

The announcement follows Archer’s recent agreement to supply its proprietary electric powertrain to Anduril and EDGE Group for the new Omen Autonomous Air Vehicle—its first external powertrain partnership. Together, these milestones underscore Archer’s growing footprint in the hybrid and defence VTOL landscape as it leverages its core technologies across both commercial and military programmes.