Archer Aviation acquires former rival Wisk Aero as Joby pushes into defense
The electric air taxi sector saw two major deals this week — Archer Aviation took ownership of former rival Wisk Aero, while Joby Aviation acquired defense-tech firm Resonant Sciences for $500 million.
The electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft industry saw two significant deals this week, underscoring how the young sector is consolidating and hunting for near-term revenue while still working through lengthy regulatory approval processes.
Archer takes over its old rival
Archer Aviation announced it now owns its former competitor Wisk Aero. Under the deal, Boeing sold Wisk Aero along with two other subsidiaries — SkyGrid, a digital airspace and air traffic management software company, and drone maker Insitu — to Archer in exchange for an ownership stake. Boeing now holds a 16.5% stake in Archer.
The deal is notable given the companies' history: Wisk sued Archer in 2021 over allegations of theft of confidential information and intellectual property. The two-year legal battle ended in a settlement that resolved both the lawsuit and Archer's countersuit, and ultimately paved the way for collaboration.
Wisk itself has a winding history. It began as Kitty Hawk, an electric aviation startup led by Sebastian Thrun and backed by Google co-founder Larry Page. Kitty Hawk shut down in September 2022, but its Cora program continued as a joint venture with Boeing, later renamed Wisk Aero.
Joby expands into defense
Joby Aviation acquired Resonant Sciences, a maker of radio frequency and sensor systems, for $500 million. The unit will operate as a new division called Joby Defense. The company has been gradually expanding into defense work over the past couple of years while continuing to pursue certification and manufacturing of its eVTOL aircraft for use as urban air taxis. Joby says it remains committed to its original mission but sees both opportunity and revenue potential in defense.
Other industry news
Uber sold off its entire stake in Serve Robotics, the autonomous delivery robot company that spun out of Uber more than five years ago. Serve Robotics reportedly learned of the sale only after Uber's regulatory filing was made public, though the two companies remain business partners under a contract running through 2027.
