Archer Aviation Inc. today announced an exclusive collaboration with Karem Aircraft, giving Archer access to the key aspects of Karem’s advanced, military-grade rotor and tiltrotor technologies for integration into Archer’s next-generation autonomous, hybrid-propulsion VTOL aircraft.

The collaboration marks a significant addition to Archer’s strategy as the company accelerates development of its dual-use vertical lift platform, designed to upgrade certain legacy systems still in service across the U.S. and allied militaries. Archer’s objective is to deliver a multi-mission aircraft that combines modern autonomy, long-range hybrid-electric propulsion, and advanced aeromechanics capable of addressing the demands of both commercial and military operations.

With exclusive access to Karem’s validated tiltrotor technology, plus the intellectual property portfolios recently acquired from Overair and Lilium, Archer is bringing together what it believes to be one of the most advanced technology stacks in next-generation VTOL aviation. These combined assets are expected to enable an aircraft with the speed, range, payload, and low thermal and acoustic signatures necessary for missions across contested airspace.

“As we build the next generation of dual-use vertical lift aircraft, partnering with the pioneers who have shaped modern rotorcraft is essential,” said Adam Goldstein, Archer Founder and CEO. “Karem’s military-grade rotor systems are among the most advanced Army-validated technologies in the world. Integrating them into our next-gen hybrid VTOL platform positions Archer to move faster and deliver capabilities that legacy systems simply can’t match. This collaboration strengthens our dual-use strategy and accelerates our path toward fielding an aircraft built for the contested environments of tomorrow.”

“Karem Aircraft has always focused on delivering transformational rotor and VTOL technologies to serve the most demanding military and commercial missions,” Abe Karem, founder of Karem Aircraft, commented. “Archer’s vision for a dual-use, hybrid VTOL platform aligns perfectly with our belief that the next leap in vertical lift requires both advanced aeromechanics and modern autonomy. We’re excited to collaborate with Archer as they look to bring to market the next generation of tiltrotor capability.”

This collaboration with Karem follows Archer’s recently announced agreement to supply its proprietary electric powertrain to Anduril and EDGE Group for their new Omen Autonomous Air Vehicle, a milestone that marked the first time Archer has made its vertically integrated, aviation grade powertrain available to a third party. That announcement, combined with today’s news, underscores Archer’s accelerating expansion into the dual-use and hybrid VTOL space, leveraging its core technologies across both commercial and defense programs to help drive the next generation of vertical lift capabilities.