- Anduril and Archer today unveiled a jointly-developed series hybrid-electric VTOL platform built to serve both defense and commercial applications.
- Thunder is a Group 5 autonomous attack rotorcraft specifically designed to multiply the combat power of current and next-generation crewed attack and assault aircraft.
- The two companies have built what they believe to be a step change in vertical lift: a new class of autonomous aircraft with the speed, range, payload and operating cost that defense and commercial missions demand.
- Autonomous gunships will form a 'ring of steel' around Apache helicopters under plans to increase the firepower of the British Army Air Corps.
- Up to six of the large, tilt-rotor robots, known as Thunder drones, would fly low alongside attack helicopters on the battlefield.
- Each Thunder drone carries up to ten Hellfire air-to-ground missiles or 76 rockets that fire from foldout side doors.
- Thunder is designed to work in tandem with Apaches, giving the pilot a protective aerial shield and the ability to strike targets at much greater distances.
- Thunder builds on a dual-use platform developed by Archer and Anduril, bringing the commercial VTOL sector's rapid innovation in electric propulsion and rotor design directly into a clean sheet configuration.
- A series hybrid-electric powertrain enables the aircraft to achieve significant range and endurance, while still maintaining the necessary precision to closely optimize power through the full range of flight conditions.
- The platform’s tiltrotor configuration combines vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) with efficient wingborne cruise, enabling runway-independent operations from austere locations without the range constraints of traditional rotorcraft.
- Thunder’s first flight is planned for 2027.
Anduril and Archer have introduced the Thunder, a revolutionary hybrid-electric VTOL platform designed for both defense and commercial applications. This autonomous aircraft aims to enhance the operational capabilities of the British Army Air Corps by forming a protective 'ring of steel' around Apache helicopters.127811
The Thunder is a Group 5 autonomous attack rotorcraft that significantly multiplies the combat power of existing crewed aircraft. Shane Arnott, SVP of Maneuver Dominance at Anduril, stated, “From raw performance to producibility, harnessing the best technologies from the commercial eVTOL market for defense is central to how Thunder will deliver operational value to our customers.”
The platform features a series hybrid-electric powertrain, allowing for extended range and endurance while maintaining precision across various flight conditions. Adam Goldstein, Founder and CEO of Archer, emphasized, “This mission required a clean sheet design... we believe is the most sophisticated vertical lift aircraft ever made.”
Thunder is designed to operate alongside Apache helicopters, with plans for three to six Thunder drones to accompany each Apache. Each drone can carry up to ten Hellfire missiles or 76 rockets, and can also serve as a mothership for kamikaze drones and anti-drone interceptors.5
The first flight of Thunder is scheduled for 2027, and it is one of four contenders for the British Army's Project NYX, which aims to develop a 'loyal wingman' drone. Rich Drake, general manager at Anduril UK, noted that the company plans to build 50 drones annually, with the potential to increase production during wartime.
“The Thunder can carry up to ten Hellfire missiles or 76 rockets and also acts as a mothership for 16 tube-launched kamikaze drones. It is one of four contenders for the British Army's Project NYX loyal wingman program, with first flight planned for 2027.”
The Times
