Archer and Anduril unveil Halo, the commercial version of their dual-use VTOL

Archer Aviation has unveiled ‘Halo,’ the commercial version of the unmanned, dual-use hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft it has jointly developed with defense technology firm Anduril. 

The new clean-sheet aircraft was publicly showcased on July 22, 2026, at Farnborough International Airshow 2026, just two days after the partner firms unveiled ‘Thunder’, which is the military version of the platform. 

Archer also announced that Marubeni Aerospace Corporation, a Japanese diversified aerospace firm, a subsidiary of the conglomerate of the same name, will be Halo’s launch customer. Other future operators are expected to be announced later in 2026. 

In a press release announcing Halo, Satoru Nakagawa, President and CEO of Marubeni Aerospace Corporation, laid out the business case for selecting the Halo.  

“Currently, even in cargo transport operations that do not require onboard crew, flights are conducted with human pilots, absorbing the cost, scheduling constraints and human exposure that come with it. Halo’s unmanned, autonomous flight capabilities can address these challenges, and combined with its excellent range, payload capacity and VTOL capability, make it a highly suitable solution that we are pleased to introduce and support for our customers as a first strategic partner.”  

Archer and Anduril are pitching some of the same advantages that enable Thunder to operate in contested environments, as suitable for civilian missions, such as servicing offshore platforms or operating in urban and suburban areas.  

This is the case, for example, of the extended range afforded by Halo’s hybrid-electric powertrain and its low noise levels, due to the aircraft’s dual tilt-rotors, which are capable of adjusting their revolutions per minute (RPM) depending on the stage of flight that the aircraft is going through. 

No specific timeframe has been provided for Halo’s expected entry into service. The post Archer and Anduril unveil Halo, the commercial version of their dual-use VTOL appeared first on AeroTime.

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