Anduril Unveils Thunder Autonomous Tiltrotor with 10-Missile Payload
The tiltrotor platform is built to team with crewed helicopters and carry modular weapons, with first flight planned for 2027, the companies said.
- On Monday, Anduril Industries and Archer Aviation unveiled Thunder, a Group 5 autonomous attack rotorcraft, at the Farnborough Airshow in England as a co-developed platform for military operations.
- Modern battlefields have become what Anduril calls a "robotic kill zone" where crewed helicopters face lethal threats, prompting the company to design Thunder around "affordable mass" to avoid losses comparable to an $18 million Apache.
- Thunder's tiltrotor design enables vertical takeoff while maintaining fixed-wing speed and range. Its modular payload bay can carry 10 air-to-ground missiles, 16 launched effects, or 76 70mm rockets plus a dozen counter-drone interceptors.
- Using Anduril's Lattice for Mission Autonomy software, Thunder operates as a "trusted autonomous wingman" that absorbs dangerous mission phases, allowing human crews to focus on objectives rather than direct aircraft control.
- Developed under a 2024 deal, the platform targets both commercial and military applications. Anduril continues testing with full-scale surrogate aircraft, targeting Thunder's first flight in 2027.
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Stock Market Today, July 20: Archer Aviation Surges 20% on Thunder VTOL Platform Unveiling with Anduril
Archer Aviation (NYSE:ACHR), an eVTOL aircraft developer and urban air mobility operator, closed at $5.31, up 19.59%. Shares jumped after Archer and Anduril unveiled Thunder, a Group 5 autonomous attack rotorcraft. Investors are watching commercial partner announcements and defense demand next. Trading volume reached 95.7M shares, coming in about 125% above its three-month average of 42.6M shares. Archer Aviation IPO'd in 2020 and has fallen 47%…
Anduril and Archer unveiled an autonomous attack rotorcraft built on air taxi technology. First flight is planned for 2027.
Anduril and Archer Aviation unveiled Thunder at the Farnborough International Airshow on Sunday, a Group 5 autonomous attack rotorcraft built on a jointly developed dual-use platform. The aircraft is designed to multiply the combat power of crewed attack and assault helicopters by operating alongside them without a pilot. It uses a series hybrid-electric powertrain and […] This story continues at The Next Web
Anduril unveils Thunder autonomous tiltrotor with 10-missile payload
Anduril Industries has introduced Thunder, an autonomous military aircraft designed to fly alongside crewed helicopters and extend their reach on increasingly dangerous battlefields. The new Group 5 tiltrotor aircraft focuses on one growing challenge. Cheap drones, loitering munitions and widespread battlefield surveillance have made low-altitude operations far riskier for attack helicopters than in previous conflicts. Thunder is intended to sho…
Archer Aviation Flies 14% Higher as Anduril Team-Up Unveils Autonomous VTOL; Joby and EHang Get a Lift, Too
The post Archer Aviation Flies 14% Higher as Anduril Team-Up Unveils Autonomous VTOL; Joby and EHang Get a Lift, Too appeared first on 24/7 Wall St.. Archer Aviation (NYSE:ACHR) shares are trading higher in Monday morning action, up 14% to $5.06. The move follows a joint reveal by the company and privately held defense technology firm Anduril of an autonomous vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft platform at the Farnborough Airshow. The p…
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