Archer Aviation acquires former rival Wisk Aero from Boeing

The transaction includes not only Wisk Aero but also the acquisition of SkyGrid, a specialist in digital airspace management, and the drone manufacturer Insitu. Under the agreement, Boeing will receive newly issued Archer shares equivalent to 19.75% of the company’s pre-closing outstanding stock. This move marks the final chapter in a volatile history between the two firms, which began in 2021 when Wisk sued Archer for the alleged theft of trade secrets. That litigation concluded with a settlement that transformed the rivals into collaborators, with Archer naming Wisk the exclusive provider of its autonomous flight technology.

For Boeing, the sale follows years of heavy investment, including a $450 million injection into Wisk in 2022. The subsidiary traces its lineage to Kittyhawk, the venture-backed startup co-founded by Sebastian Thrun and supported by Larry Page. While Kittyhawk ceased operations in 2022, its autonomous Cora program evolved into the core of Wisk’s air taxi ambitions under Boeing’s full ownership. Archer, meanwhile, is pivoting toward a broader strategy that encompasses both commercial air taxis and defense contracts. With fresh capital from investors like BlackRock and Wellington, the company is pushing forward with its Midnight aircraft while simultaneously developing hybrid VTOL technology alongside weapons manufacturer Anduril.