Charles Alcock is managing editor of the AIN Media Group, having rejoined the company in 2019. He has been an aviation journalist since 1986, and previously worked for AIN from 1990 to 2017, most recently as editor-in-chief. His main focus is on covering new aviation technology and business models, as well as international news.
Having been raised in the London area, Alcock studied at the University of Manchester in the UK and earned an honors degree in Politics and Modern History. He speaks English and French, and some German.

Managing Editor

Charles Alcock

Archer Aviation and autonomous system specialist Anduril rolled out their plans for a family of hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft on Monday. On the opening morning of the Farnborough International Airshow, the U.S. partners unveiled a mockup of a Group 5 model called Thunder, which they described as an autonomous attack rotorcraft.
The program joins similar initiatives from other eVTOL aircraft developers chasing the spike in defense spending on autonomous platforms to supplement piloted warplanes. These include rivals Joby Aviation, Vertical Aerospace, and Beta Technologies, which is exhibiting the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2026-07-18/beta-brings-electric-airplane-farnborough-flying-display">MV250</a> hybrid-electric autonomous derivative of its CX300 electric aircraft.
Other versions of the tiltrotor VTOL design are expected to be offered for commercial applications, with Archer expected to announce launch customers later this week for a model called Halo. According to the company, Thunder and the other variants are “designed for the operations that need to move heavy payloads over long distances, into places without a runway, at a lower cost than traditional platforms.”
Anduril (which is leading the defense missionization work) and Archer say they can deliver a new class of vertical-lift autonomous aircraft. However, they declined to detail anticipated speed, range, and payload specifications on the basis that they are actively competing for military contracts.
The partners expect to begin test flights of the Thunder prototype in 2027, but have not said when they will begin deliveries. The companies said they have already flown what they described as “a full-scale surrogate aircraft.”
Based on the powertrain Archer developed for its four-passenger Midnight eVTOL air taxi, the series’ hybrid-electric powertrain drives the rotors directly from electric motors and features a turbogenerator. The propulsion system also includes wing-mounted optimum-speed tiltrotors that vary the revolutions per minute to maintain efficiency through different phases of flight, reducing power demand and fuel burn in cruise as well as reducing noise to avoid detection by hostile forces during low-altitude approaches.
In the UK, Vertical is working on a hybrid-electric adaptation of its six-seater Valo eVTOL that it aims to start flying in 2027. The <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2026-05-19/vertical-starts-tests-hybrid-electric-powertrain">aircraft</a>, which could be piloted or autonomous, is expected to have a payload of 1,100 kilograms (2,420 pounds) and a range of 870 nm.

News and issues relating to civil and military unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) of all kinds and sizes, including those used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), combat (unmanned combat air vehicles, or UCAVs), law enforcement, research and other applications. Of particular focus is the FAA's planned integration of UAS into the U.S. national airspace system.

Archer and Anduril Join Chase for Hybrid-electric Defense Drone Market

Autonomous Thunder aircraft unveiled on first day of Farnborough airshow

Anduril and eVTOL developer Archer are working on a family of hybrid-electric, autonomous aircraft for defense and commercial operations.

Archer and Anduril Join Hybrid Defense Drone Chase

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charlotte Bailey

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Hybrid-electric VTOL joins Matrix-equipped fleet

Sikorsky Adds Matrix Autonomy to Beta's MV250 Military VTOL

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

Tiny sensor package offered as alternative to large fiber-optic gyros 

Gyroscope on a Chip Offers GPS-denied Workaround

Drone demonstrations showcase resilience of non-GNSS systems 

Honeywell Expands Its Anti-Jamming Navigation Toolkit

News and information about crew, passenger, aircraft and airport security issues.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Odys VTOL extends counter-drone system aloft

Honeywell Expands Samurai Counter-Drone Capabilities 

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

More In Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Sikorsky Adds Matrix Autonomy to Beta's MV250 Military VTOL

Hybrid-electric VTOL joins Matrix-equipped fleet

Gyroscope on a Chip Offers GPS-denied Workaround

Tiny sensor package offered as alternative to large fiber-optic gyros

Honeywell Expands Its Anti-Jamming Navigation Toolkit

Drone demonstrations showcase resilience of non-GNSS systems

Honeywell Expands Samurai Counter-Drone Capabilities

Odys VTOL extends counter-drone system aloft

Geopolitics Drives Technology Shift to Defense at GKN

European investment in sovereign capability targets new drones

U.S. Navy Evaluates Swarm Aero's Drone C2 Software

Recent FLEX exercise in Key West assessed coordination of air and sea assets

DARPA's X-65 CRANE Project Moves Closer To First Flight

Experimental uncrewed aircraft set to evaluate active flow control mid-air

M-346 Leads Baykar UCAV in Autonomous Formation Flight

Italian jet and Turkish drone carry out K-Swarm airborne trial

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN