Archer Aviation Acquires Wisk Aero, Insitu, and SkyGrid in Major Deal with Boeing
Electric aircraft manufacturer Archer Aviation has reached an agreement with aerospace giant Boeing to acquire its former rival Wisk Aero alongside two other aviation-focused subsidiaries.
What Happened
According to a regulatory filing, Boeing has agreed to sell Wisk Aero, drone manufacturer Insitu, and digital airspace management firm SkyGrid to Archer Aviation. In exchange, Boeing will receive newly issued Archer shares amounting to 19.75% of Archer’s outstanding shares immediately prior to the closing, which equates to an approximate 16.5% equity stake in Archer following the transaction.
This transaction marks a complete shift in the relationship between the two companies. In April 2021, Wisk sued Archer alleging intellectual property and trade secret theft. Archer subsequently filed a $1 billion counter-suit against Wisk. After two years of litigation, the firms settled the dispute. Under that agreement, Archer designated Wisk as its exclusive autonomous technology provider and granted Wisk an option to buy up to 13,176,636 common shares at $0.01 per share.
Key Highlights
- Subsidiaries Acquired: Archer acquires autonomous eVTOL developer Wisk Aero, drone maker Insitu, and digital airspace software company SkyGrid.
- Boeing Equity Stake: Boeing will hold approximately a 16.5% stake in Archer following the completion of the transaction.
- Wisk’s Background: Originating from the Larry Page-backed startup Kittyhawk (which shut down in September 2022), Wisk was spun out in 2019 around the Cora two-person autonomous aircraft. Boeing invested $450 million in early 2022 and made Wisk a fully owned subsidiary in 2023.
- Archer’s Expansion: Founded in 2018 and taken public in 2021, Archer expanded into defense, securing $430 million in December 2024 and $300 million in 2025 from investors including BlackRock and Wellington.
- Defense Collaboration: Archer holds an exclusive partnership with weapons manufacturer Anduril to develop hybrid gas-and-electric VTOL aircraft.
Why This Matters
The acquisition consolidates key autonomous and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) assets under Archer. It unites Archer’s manufacturing and defense programs with Wisk’s autonomous flight technology, Insitu’s uncrewed systems, and SkyGrid’s air traffic management tools, while bringing Boeing in as a major institutional shareholder.
What to Watch Next
Archer is advancing its all-electric Midnight aircraft toward operational deployment. Having recently completed a piloted round-trip flight between Salinas Municipal Airport and Monterey Regional Airport, Archer is preparing to launch operations later this year under the White House’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program.
Frequently Asked Questions
What subsidiaries did Archer acquire from Boeing?
Archer agreed to acquire autonomous air taxi developer Wisk Aero, drone manufacturer Insitu, and digital airspace and traffic management software provider SkyGrid.
What does Boeing receive in the transaction?
Boeing will receive newly issued shares representing 19.75% of Archer’s shares outstanding prior to closing, resulting in an ownership stake of about 16.5% after the deal closes.
What is the status of Archer’s Midnight aircraft?
Archer recently completed a piloted round-trip test flight between Salinas Municipal Airport and Monterey Regional Airport and is preparing to begin operations later this year under the White House eVTOL Integration Pilot Program.
Source: Regulatory filings and TechCrunch.