Boeing is handing over much of its advanced-air-mobility portfolio to Archer Aviation, but it is not simply walking away from the sector. Under an agreement announced on August 10, Archer will acquire the Boeing subsidiaries Wisk Aero, Insitu and SkyGrid, while Boeing receives a major equity position in Archer, warrants, board representation and continued access to Wisk's autonomous-flight technology, according to Simple Flying, which reported the stake at close to 20 percent.
AeroTime reported that the two companies signed definitive agreements on August 10, 2026 - exactly three years to the day after they settled the trade secrets lawsuit that Wisk filed against Archer in 2021. Financial terms were not disclosed in the announcement, with Archer pointing to a Form 8-K filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission the same day. The companies expect the transaction to close by the end of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.
The most immediately material asset in the deal is Insitu. Founded in 1994 and bought by Boeing in 2008, the Bingen, Washington-based manufacturer builds the ScanEagle and Integrator uncrewed intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems. According to AeroTime, Archer said the business is profitable, generates more than $200 million in annual revenue, and has fielded over 3,500 uncrewed aircraft systems, with the platforms operated by the armed forces of 35 nations, including the US Navy and the US Marine Corps.
Wisk Aero, the centerpiece of the air-taxi side of the transaction, has been developing an autonomous electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft aimed at future urban and regional air mobility. By folding Wisk into Archer, the deal consolidates two of the most closely watched names in the electric air-taxi race, while Boeing retains a financial and technological interest through its stake and continued access to Wisk's autonomy work. SkyGrid, the third subsidiary, has focused on airspace management and software for uncrewed operations.
For Boeing, the agreement marks a strategic reshaping rather than a full exit. Handing operational ownership of these ventures to Archer allows the manufacturer to concentrate resources on its core commercial and defense programs, while still participating in the potential upside of advanced air mobility through its equity position and board representation. The arrangement gives Boeing exposure to the emerging sector without carrying the full development burden itself.
For Archer, the transaction significantly broadens the company's footprint. Acquiring Insitu hands the electric-aircraft developer an established, profitable defense business with substantial recurring revenue, a notable contrast with the pre-revenue nature of much of the eVTOL industry. Adding Wisk and SkyGrid strengthens Archer's position across both autonomous flight and airspace management, areas widely seen as critical to scaling air-taxi operations.
The timing of the announcement, on the anniversary of the settlement of the companies' earlier legal dispute, underscores how far the relationship between Archer and Wisk has shifted, from courtroom adversaries to partners under a single corporate roof. With the deal targeted to close by the end of 2026 and still requiring regulatory clearance, the coming months will determine how quickly the combined portfolio can be integrated.
If completed as planned, the agreement would rank among the most significant consolidations to date in the advanced-air-mobility field, reshaping the competitive landscape and clarifying where Boeing intends to sit within it.
Sources: Simple Flying, AeroTime. Featured image: AI-generated by AviationShop. By James Holloway.
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