Archer Aviation (ACHR) Stock Rises 20% On Defense Aircraft Partnership With Anduril

TLDR

• Archer Aviation stock rose 20% Monday and continues climbing Tuesday, reaching $5.40 per share on the back of a new defense partnership announcement
• Archer and defense firm Anduril Industries unveiled “Thunder,” an autonomous aircraft platform designed for defense and commercial applications
• The company expects to announce Thunder’s first commercial partners later this week
• Analysts maintain a Buy rating with average price targets around $10.50, though the stock remains down 55% over the past year
• Archer will report next earnings on August 10, 2026, with analysts expecting a loss of 25 cents per share and revenue of $1.99 million

---

Archer Aviation stock is making headlines Tuesday as it extends a powerful rally that started Monday. Shares climbed 1.69% in premarket trading, trading around $5.40 after jumping nearly 20% on the previous day.

Archer Aviation Inc., ACHR

The momentum comes from Archer’s partnership with Anduril Industries. Together, they unveiled “Thunder,” a new autonomous vertical takeoff and landing platform built for both defense and commercial use.

Thunder combines electric propulsion with an advanced rotor design. The aircraft aims to improve speed, range, and payload capacity compared to existing options.

Archer said it will announce Thunder’s first commercial partners later this week. This suggests the company already has potential customers lined up for the new platform.

The Defense Angle

The partnership represents a major expansion for Archer beyond urban air taxis. Defense applications open up a much larger addressable market for the company.

Anduril brings autonomous systems expertise to the table. Archer contributes its electric aviation technology and manufacturing capabilities.

The collaboration aligns with what investors have been hoping to see from Archer. Diversification into defense could help the company reach profitability faster.

Market Reaction and Analysis

S&P 500 futures rose 0.5% on Tuesday, providing a positive backdrop for the rally. However, broader market strength isn’t the only driver of Archer’s move.

The Thunder announcement specifically sparked investor optimism. Analysts see the defense market as a path to faster commercialization.

Archer’s stock currently trades 10.3% above its 20-day moving average of $4.89. But the stock remains 3.5% below its 50-day moving average of $5.59.

Technical momentum sits neutral on the Relative Strength Index at 53.61. Key resistance sits near $5.50, with support around $5.00.

Over the past 12 months, Archer has declined 55%. The stock remains well below its 52-week high of $14.62 set earlier this year.

What’s Ahead

Archer will report earnings on August 10, 2026. Analysts expect a loss of 25 cents per share, an improvement from the prior year’s 36-cent loss.

Revenue is projected at $1.99 million for the period. This would represent the company’s first revenue compared to zero in the prior year.

Four analysts rate the stock a Buy, two rate it Hold, and one rates it Sell. The consensus price target is $11.83, implying roughly 120% upside from current levels.

Canaccord Genuity recently lowered its price target to $12.00 while maintaining a Buy rating. Needham maintains its Buy rating with a $10.00 target.

Archer has reaffirmed its goal to achieve aircraft certification by 2028. Management views this timeline as ambitious but achievable given development progress.