Archer Aviation to Acquire Boeing's Wisk, Insitu, and SkyGrid in Strategic Pivot

Archer Aviation announced a definitive agreement on August 10, 2026, to acquire three Boeing subsidiaries: Wisk Aero, Insitu, and SkyGrid. The move signals a fundamental shift for Archer, evolving from a specialized eVTOL startup into a diversified "physical AI" platform for the aerospace and defense sectors.

Under the terms of the agreement, Boeing will receive newly issued Archer shares equal to 19.75% of shares outstanding immediately before closing, resulting in a post-closing equity stake of approximately 16.5%. The acquisition includes Wisk Aero's autonomous eVTOL capabilities, SkyGrid's airspace management systems, and Insitu, a profitable defense business. Insitu currently generates over $200 million in annual revenue and maintains operations across 35 countries.

A History of Rivalry and Realignment

The acquisition marks a dramatic conclusion to a volatile relationship between Archer and Wisk Aero. The two companies were previously locked in a bitter legal battle; in April 2021, Wisk sued Archer for patent infringement and trade secret theft, while Archer responded with a $1 billion counter-suit. The litigation ended on August 10, 2023, with a settlement that established Wisk as Archer's exclusive provider of autonomous technology.

This deal aligns with a broader divestment strategy at Boeing. Under CEO Kelly Ortberg, the aerospace giant has been shedding non-core assets to streamline operations, a trend highlighted by the $10.55 billion sale of Jeppesen and ForeFlight in November 2025. Despite the sale, Boeing will maintain a strategic link to the technology via a sharing arrangement that grants it continued access to Wisk's core autonomous flight systems for its own commercial and defense aircraft.

Scaling Physical AI

For Archer, the acquisition provides immediate revenue and a massive data advantage. The company plans to integrate the acquired technologies into "ZEE," its aviation foundation model. This integration will leverage nearly two million combined flight hours of data to accelerate the development of autonomous flight.

"This is a watershed moment for Archer and the future of physical AI in aerospace and defense," said Adam Goldstein, Founder and CEO of Archer. He noted that the move is a critical step in diversifying the company's platform and rapidly growing its revenue base to achieve greater scale.

Path to Closing

Brian Yutko, Boeing VP of Commercial Airplanes Product Development, described the transaction as a "win-win," stating it allows the subsidiaries to accelerate their time to market while ensuring Boeing capitalizes on two decades of investment.

The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2026. Finalization remains subject to standard closing conditions, including regulatory approval under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act.