Archer Aviation stock has fallen over 20% in 2026 and trades roughly 56% below its 52-week high of $14.60, yet the company's business has strengthened through new defense initiatives. In July 2026, Archer and Anduril unveiled a jointly developed autonomous platform, with Anduril revealing its defense variant Thunder and Archer revealing a commercial variant Halo, both using a hybrid-electric powertrain for greater range. In August, Archer agreed to acquire three businesses from Boeing—Wisk Aero, Insitu, and SkyGrid—largely in exchange for newly minted Archer stock and warrants, with Insitu being a profitable defense company generating over $200 million in annual revenue compared to Archer's $5 million last quarter. Archer still needs FAA type certification for its eVTOL aircraft Midnight, but the lower stock price offers a better risk-reward setup for long-term investors willing to stomach volatility.
