Aircraft Evaluation Under AFWERX Agility Prime Contract

Archer Aviation announced the delivery of the first of its Midnight aircraft to the U.S. Air Force for flight testing under the company’s AFWERX Agility Prime contract.

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) previously accepted Midnight’s military airworthiness assessment, which cleared the way for AFWERX to begin flight testing. In this phase, AFWERX performs government-directed flight testing for the Air Force to validate operational and military-specific mission profiles.

Archer’s flight test team and USAF personnel worked together to accelerate Midnight’s operations at Archer’s flight test facility in Salinas, California. The two teams executed simulated cargo, medevac, and intelligence, surveillance, and recon (ISR) flights. The Midnight aircraft is well-suited to military operations with its VTOL capability, electric power train, and low acoustic profile. Midnight is expected to be quieter, safer, and cost-effective compared to its internal combustion counterparts, and promises enhanced agility in rapid-response scenarios and overall operational effectiveness over a variety of mission profiles.

Col. Elliott Leigh, AFWERX Director and Chief Commercialization Officer for the Department of the Air Force said, "Archer's Midnight aircraft has the potential to significantly enhance our operational capabilities. We look forward to continuing our work with our industry partners as we explore the ways that this advanced aircraft can contribute to the mission."

Adam Goldstein, CEO of Archer Aviation noted, "This delivery represents a pivotal moment not only for Archer but for the future of military aviation. Together, our goal is to prove Midnight’s potential and ensure the United States continues to lead the way with the world’s most advanced technology."

FMI:  afwerx.com/