Anduril, Archer Aviation unveil Thunder hybrid-electric tiltrotor attack drone concept

Published Jul 20, 11:30 AM UTC

Anduril, in partnership with Archer Aviation, has revealed the Thunder, a hybrid-electric tiltrotor combat drone designed as a highly autonomous wingman for crewed rotorcraft like the AH-64 Apache and MV-75 Cheyenne II. The Group 5 drone is intended for low-altitude, nap-of-the-earth flight, offering high speed and range comparable to the Cheyenne II. Thunder is designed to hunt targets, provide close-in defense against air-to-air drone threats, and allow human pilots to stay further from danger. A mockup is on display at the Farnborough International Airshow, with a first flight targeted for 2026 and potential production by the end of the decade. The drone can be broken down for transport in a standard shipping container and features a series hybrid-electric powertrain for optimized performance.