Archer Aviation and Boeing have signed definitive agreements for Archer to acquire three Boeing subsidiaries — Wisk Aero, SkyGrid, and Insitu — consolidating autonomous flight, air traffic management, and uncrewed aircraft systems under the San Jose-based air taxi maker1,3. Boeing will take an undisclosed stake in Archer Aviation and the two companies will enter a collaboration and technology-sharing arrangement.
The deal brings together assets with nearly two million combined flight hours. Wisk Aero has been developing an autonomous electric aircraft and is described as the only company that has designed, built, and flown six generations of eVTOL aircraft, with more than 1,700 flight tests completed. Over the past 16 years, Wisk's team has developed autonomy capabilities powered by a next-generation flight-control computer, sensor suite, and radar system designed for certification in civil and potential defense markets. Insitu designs, develops, and manufactures uncrewed aircraft systems used in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, having manufactured and fielded more than 3,500 UAS whose technologies have supported the armed forces of 35 nations. SkyGrid has built a ground-based, aircraft-agnostic air traffic management solution intended for use by urban air taxis.
Boeing will retain access to Wisk's autonomous flight systems for its current and next-generation commercial and defense projects. The transaction allows Boeing to retain strategic upside through its stake in Archer.
Archer Aviation Founder and CEO Adam Goldstein called the transaction "a watershed moment for Archer and the future of physical AI in aerospace and defense," describing it as a step toward becoming a diversified platform, rapidly growing its revenue base, and bringing scale to its business. The companies framed the combined entity as an end-to-end physical AI platform spanning commercial aerospace, defense, and air traffic management.
The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2026 and remains subject to closing conditions including expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act.
ANALYSIS The AI-relevant core of this deal centers on Archer's absorption of Wisk Aero's autonomous flight stack and SkyGrid's air traffic management platform, which together form the software and sensing backbone for pilotless eVTOL operations. Archer is positioning these acquisitions as the foundation of what it calls a "physical AI" platform — applying autonomy and AI-driven flight control across both commercial air taxi and defense drone operations. Boeing's decision to divest the subsidiaries while retaining access to Wisk's autonomy technology and taking an equity stake in Archer shifts its exposure from operator to technology partner and investor.