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Updated on August 13, 2026 • 5 min read

Archer Aviation has signed definitive agreements to acquire three aerospace subsidiaries from Boeing — Wisk Aero, Insitu and SkyGrid — in a transaction that will bring eVTOL aircraft, unmanned aircraft systems, autonomous flight and air traffic management capabilities under a single organization.

The combination represents a significant expansion of Archer beyond its existing electric air taxi business.

Archer says the acquired businesses will contribute to an end-to-end physical AI platform for aerospace and defense, building around the company’s ZEE AI technology.

Together, Wisk, Insitu and SkyGrid bring nearly 2 million combined flight hours of operational and development experience.

Wisk Adds Autonomous eVTOL Technology

Wisk Aero brings one of the transaction’s most directly complementary technology portfolios.

The company has designed, built and flown six generations of eVTOL aircraft, completing more than 1,700 flight tests during 16 years of development.

Its autonomous aviation technology incorporates a next-generation flight-control computer, sensors and radar designed around certification requirements for civil aviation, with potential applications in defense.

Combining these capabilities with Archer’s existing eVTOL development gives the company access to an established autonomous-flight technology base rather than requiring all such capabilities to be developed internally.

Insitu Brings More Than 3,500 UAS

Insitu significantly expands Archer’s position in unmanned aviation and defense.

The Boeing subsidiary develops and manufactures UAS for applications including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR).

Its portfolio includes resilient and VTOL-capable unmanned aircraft as well as AI-enabled software.

More than 3,500 Insitu UAS have been manufactured and fielded, according to the announcement, supported by operations across multiple international markets.

For Archer, Insitu adds an established unmanned aircraft business alongside its emerging air taxi and AI activities.

SkyGrid Adds the Air Traffic Management Layer

SkyGrid contributes another part of the autonomous aviation ecosystem: management of aircraft after they enter shared airspace.

The company has developed a ground-based, aircraft-agnostic air traffic management platform intended to support integration, automation and coordinated traffic management.

This capability could become increasingly important as conventional aircraft, eVTOL vehicles and autonomous or remotely operated UAS operate within increasingly complex airspace environments.

Bringing SkyGrid together with aircraft and autonomy technologies therefore gives Archer capabilities spanning both the vehicle and operational infrastructure layers.

Nearly Two Million Flight Hours Feed Archer’s ZEE AI Platform

One of the most important elements of the acquisition is the operational experience accumulated across the three businesses.

Archer says Wisk, SkyGrid and Insitu have almost 2 million combined flight hours.

Their technologies and experience are expected to contribute to Archer’s ZEE AI platform as the company develops a broader autonomy architecture for commercial and defense aviation.

Archer founder and CEO Adam Goldstein described the transaction as a step toward transforming the company into a more diversified aerospace platform while expanding its revenue base.

Boeing Retains Access to Wisk Autonomy Technology

The transaction does not completely separate Boeing from the technologies being transferred.

Boeing and Archer will establish a collaboration and technology-sharing arrangement that gives Boeing continued access to Wisk’s core autonomous-flight technology.

Boeing intends to use that access for current and future commercial and defense aircraft programs.

The structure also allows Boeing to retain exposure to the businesses through its stake in Archer while directing its own investment toward its core operations.

Archer Moves Beyond the Air Taxi Market

The strategic significance of the acquisition lies in the breadth of technologies being combined.

Archer is bringing together eVTOL aircraft, autonomous flight systems, established UAS platforms, AI software and air traffic management rather than concentrating solely on electric passenger aircraft.

Each acquired company fills a different part of that architecture: Wisk contributes autonomous eVTOL technology, Insitu brings fielded unmanned aircraft and defense experience, while SkyGrid provides an aircraft-agnostic traffic management layer.

If completed as announced, the transaction would therefore mark a substantial evolution of Archer’s business — from an eVTOL developer toward a broader aerospace and defense platform built around autonomy, unmanned aviation and AI-enabled flight systems.

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