Happy Tuesday.
The build this week: Anduril and Archer unveiled Thunder, a hybrid-electric autonomous tiltrotor built to fly beside Army attack helicopters and take on missions that would otherwise put a crew at risk.
Underneath: JetZero's $3 billion EXIM letter for its Greensboro factory, a larger national-security launch ceiling, a $1 billion West Virginia engine-overhaul award, and a busy Dealbook.
The Lead
At Farnborough this week, Anduril and Archer unveiled Thunder, an autonomous hybrid-electric tiltrotor designed to fly alongside AH-64E Apaches and the Army's future MV-75.
The operating idea is easy to picture. Two crewed helicopters enter the fight with three to six Thunder aircraft around them. The drones scout ahead, carry weapons, intercept incoming aircraft, and take on the missions where commanders would rather risk a machine than a crew.
That formation says more about the future of electric flight than another air-taxi demonstration ever could.
For the past decade, companies poured billions into quieter propulsion, new rotor systems, autonomous flight software, and aircraft capable of taking off without a runway. Most of that work was sold around a vision of short passenger trips over congested cities. Commercial service has moved slowly. The military already has missions for the technology and an urgent reason to deploy it.
Thunder uses a series-hybrid system, with electric propulsion backed by an onboard generator for range. Its variable-speed Karem rotors are intended to deliver the hover performance of a helicopter and the speed of a fixed-wing aircraft. Reporting from Farnborough puts its top speed near 320 miles per hour and its range around 920 miles. The aircraft can also travel inside a standard 40-foot shipping container, giving the Army a practical way to move it between theaters.
The partnership is equally revealing. Archer brings the airframe, electric propulsion experience, and manufacturing operation. Anduril brings its Lattice autonomy platform and the production lessons behind Fury. Together, they are aiming at an aircraft that can operate like an ordinary wingman on military data links while carrying modular payloads for reconnaissance, electronic warfare, air defense, or strike missions.
Thunder still has plenty to prove. The companies have flown full-scale surrogate test aircraft, but Thunder itself is scheduled to make its first flight in 2027. No customer has been named. Pricing remains undisclosed. Bell, Sikorsky, and Boeing are pursuing the same broad opportunity.
Still, the direction is becoming clear. Electric aviation may reach meaningful production through defense before it does through passenger service. Thunder takes technology developed for trips across town and puts it into a formation where range, autonomy, and keeping another crew out of harm's way have immediate value.
Defense & Space
National-security launch providers received a combined $11.4 billion ceiling increase that lifts NSSL Phase 3 Lane One capacity to $17 billion, although the modification obligated no funds.
Raytheon, SciTec, and WildStar received radar-digitization prototype awards totaling $423.4 million, with $107.4 million obligated at award.
Grunley Construction won a $117.8 million Navy award to build MQ-25 aircraft laydown facilities at Naval Station Norfolk.
X-Bow Systems unveiled the flight-tested Buckler interceptor, which the company says can defeat Group 3 drones at a unit cost below $100,000.
Lockheed Martin introduced PAC-3 ACE, an interceptor the company targets at less than half the cost of PAC-3 MSE.
Semiconductors & Electronics
Molex and Prysmian signed an agreement of up to ten years that is expected to double domestic data-center fiber capacity and support 600 U.S. manufacturing jobs.
Siemens agreed to acquire Precision Innovations to add AI-assisted system-on-chip design exploration to its electronic-design-automation portfolio; terms were not disclosed.
MultiDimension Technology introduced its TMR1370 magnetic-switch chip for low-power medical devices and continuous-glucose monitors.
BAE Systems used its battery technology in a hybrid-electric flight demonstration at the Farnborough International Airshow.
Manufacturing & Automation
Pratt & Whitney Canada received a $1 billion, nine-year V2X award covering sustainment for more than 750 PT6A-68 engines, with major overhaul work in Bridgeport, West Virginia.
Detpak opened a 175,000-square-foot packaging plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina with more than 50 initial jobs and full production expected in August.
Pratt & Whitney completed demonstration testing of the TJ150 engine, nearly 60% of which was additively manufactured by volume.
JetZero signed a letter with the Export-Import Bank to explore up to $3 billion for Factory One, its planned aerospace campus in Greensboro, and added a Wichita engineering office for certification work; the letter begins a federal review and commits no funds.
Industrial Flow Solutions brought full manufacturing of its OverWatch direct-in-line pumps in-house.
Energy & Materials
The National Nuclear Security Administration selected Amentum for lease negotiations on a proposed 1-gigawatt AI data-center campus with roughly 2 gigawatts of onsite power at the Savannah River Site.
PowerPlay AI announced a 400-megawatt behind-the-meter data-center plan in Greater Abilene targeting commercial operation in 2028.
Interlune reported producing 99% pure helium-3 from commercial Grade A helium using a cryogenic separation system.
Supply Chain & Freight
Boeing and Philippine Airlines announced a commitment for up to 20 787 Dreamliners, comprising 15 aircraft and options for five more.
AerCap and Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance agreed to form a 50/50 engine-leasing joint venture that initially plans to buy about 40 new CFM LEAP spare engines.
British Airways selected Pratt & Whitney GTF engines to power up to 63 Airbus A320neo-family aircraft.
IndiGo selected Honeywell avionics and auxiliary power units for 810 new Airbus aircraft.
Dealbook
Samsung Biologics launched a CHF1.46 billion cash tender for PolyPeptide at CHF44.31 per share, with closing targeted by year-end 2026.
AIP Capital and Monroe Capital closed a $643 million aircraft asset-backed securitization.
Raghu Vamsi Aerospace raised a $40 million Series B to expand precision manufacturing, mission systems, and deep-tech programs.
BOXABL began trading on Nasdaq after completing its combination with FG Merger II.
Adecoagro agreed to acquire the Caarapo sugarcane mill for approximately $148 million.
Examinetics acquired Progressive Safety and Jurgiel & Associates, adding two safety-consulting businesses; terms were not disclosed.
Eve Air Mobility received a letter of intent for up to 16 eVTOL aircraft from Shearwater Global Capital.
Back Thursday.
