Archer Aviation has announced that it is accelerating production of its Midnight electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The company plans to reach a production rate of 50 aircraft per year, Defense Blog reports.
The company also said that the aircraft built during this phase will be used for certification and early commercial operations. Six Midnights are currently in various stages of production, with three undergoing final assembly at Archer's facilities in Covington, Georgia, and Silicon Valley, California.
Archer's manufacturing operations are also currently undergoing audits and inspections as part of the manufacturing certification process by the US Federal Aviation Administration.
The company emphasized that Archer is using a "gold production line" at one of its facilities in Silicon Valley, where the final assembly of the first Midnight aircraft is taking place.
Last year, Archer delivered its first Midnight aircraft to the U.S. Air Force after the U.S. Department of Defense approved the aircraft's airworthiness assessment for military missions.
The increase in production comes amid the company's large losses. Archer Aviation recorded an increased loss in the second quarter of 2025, when it amounted to $206 million. However, the company plans to begin commercial flights soon.
Midnight is a single-pilot aircraft capable of carrying four passengers for a distance of 100 miles (161 km) at speeds of up to 150 mph (240 km/h). It uses a total of 12 propellers: six for vertical takeoff and landing and six that can tilt forward for horizontal flight. Midnight uses six independent battery packs with minimal charging time.
Archer Aviation has already conducted hundreds of flight tests and is preparing to officially introduce Midnight into commercial operation in 2025. In the first phase, flights will start in Abu Dhabi, with expansion to the United States expected in 2026. Midnight is currently in the final stages of certification.