Archer Aviation has agreed to acquire three of Boeing's autonomy and uncrewed-systems subsidiaries, in a deal that reshapes the electric-air-taxi developer into a much broader aerospace and defense player and turns Boeing into one of its largest shareholders. The two companies announced on August 10, 2026 that they had signed definitive agreements covering Wisk Aero, Insitu and SkyGrid.
What Archer is buying
The acquisition brings together three very different assets. Wisk Aero is an autonomous electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) developer that has designed, built and flown six generations of aircraft and amassed more than 1,700 flight tests. Insitu is a pioneer in uncrewed aircraft systems used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. SkyGrid has built a ground-based, aircraft-agnostic air-traffic-management platform aimed at safely integrating and coordinating automated flights.
For Archer, best known for its piloted Midnight eVTOL air taxi, the deal adds an established and profitable defense business generating more than $200 million in annual revenue, along with autonomy and airspace-intelligence software to pair with its own aerospace foundation model.
Boeing becomes a major shareholder
Rather than a straightforward cash sale, the transaction hands Boeing a significant equity position in Archer. Boeing will receive newly issued Archer Class A shares and warrants, ultimately positioning it to hold a stake of nearly 20 percent, and has agreed to invest up to $55 million in an upcoming Archer funding round. The two companies also plan to enter a cross-licensing agreement that would allow Boeing to use Wisk's core autonomous-flight technology across its current and future commercial and defense aircraft.
The timing carries symbolism. The agreements were signed three years to the day after Wisk and Archer settled a trade-secrets lawsuit that Wisk had filed against Archer in 2021, closing a chapter of bitter rivalry between the two eVTOL developers and instead combining their efforts under one roof.
What it means for the industry
The move signals continued consolidation in the emerging advanced-air-mobility sector, where the challenge of certifying and scaling new electric aircraft has proven capital-intensive. By folding Wisk's autonomy work, Insitu's uncrewed-systems manufacturing and SkyGrid's airspace software into Archer, the combined company positions itself across passenger air taxis, defense drones and the software needed to manage automated traffic in shared airspace.
For Boeing, the deal fits a broader pattern of streamlining its portfolio while retaining exposure to next-generation autonomy through its equity stake and licensing rights, rather than by continuing to fund the subsidiaries directly.
The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals, including expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act. Financial terms beyond the disclosed Boeing investment and equity stake were not detailed in the announcement, with Archer pointing to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for further information.
Sources: The Air Current, Boeing, AeroTime. Featured image: AI-generated by AviationShop. By Daniel Okafor.
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