Archer Aviation’s $300M Investment Boosts Signal for AAM in Appalachia

CA-based Archer Aviation’s $300M fundraiser signals growth for Advanced Air Mobility – and opportunity for West Virginia.

---

San Jose, California-based company Archer Aviation, a leader in electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft development, recently secured $301.75 million in new funding from leading institutional investors.

This capital injection further solidifies Archer’s financial position, bringing its total liquidity to approximately $1 billion. Critically, Archer Defense has earmarked this funding (including investment from BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager) for its hybrid aircraft platform, which could see applications in defense and beyond.

For Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) advocates, this funding signals a significant milestone – not only for Archer but for the overall industry. The increasing confidence from institutional investors underscores AAM’s viability and potential impact, aligning with what organizations like Vertx Partners have long argued: now is the time for West Virginia and the broader Appalachian region to position themselves at the forefront of this emerging sector.

Investor Confidence in AAM: What It Means for Appalachia

The participation of major investors like BlackRock, a multitrillion-dollar asset manager, demonstrates that AAM is more than just “flying cars” and pie-in-the-sky futurism – it’s an industry on the verge of significant expansion.

Archer’s growing liquidity and investment in developing hybrid aircraft technology signals a sector with viable, long-term opportunities for economic growth.

For West Virginia, this presents a unique moment. Vertx argues that as AAM continues to gain traction, regions that proactively invest in infrastructure, workforce development, and policy support will be best positioned to reap the benefits. The 2024 Vertx-commissioned AAM Deloitte study affirms this position.

By fostering an environment conducive to AAM development – whether through testing sites (via recommissioned airports in Southern WV), manufacturing partnerships (with Vertx clients, like Whisper Aero), or regulatory support (advocated for by Vertx and the state’s UAS Advisory Council) – West Virginia could attract future investment and become a hub for innovation.

AAM’s Role in Defense: Where WV Fits In

One of the most significant takeaways from Archer’s announcement is its emphasis on defense applications. Archer Defense, launched in December 2024, is focused on next-generation aircraft for military use, including a planned hybrid-propulsion VTOL aircraft. Archer Defense is a collaboration between Archer and Anduril Industries, recognized as an AI and systems integration leader. Upon launch, the effort had already raised $430 million in capital investment from companies like United Airlines.

According to Archer’s founder and CEO, Adam Goldstein, “The opportunity for advanced vertical lift aircraft across defense appears to be substantially larger than I originally expected,” prompting the company to invest heavily in critical capabilities like composites and battery technology.

Additionally, this shift toward defense aligns well with Vertx Partners’ other efforts in West Virginia. The core mission of Vertx and the Academic Partnership Engagement Experiment (APEX) involves identifying companies developing technologies with strong potential for Department of Defense applications.

With a Vertx cohort spanning 150 active members in Appalachia – 19 of which are located in West Virginia – the region is well-positioned to integrate into the AAM supply chain. Therefore, businesses in the state could play a role in everything from component manufacturing to operational support. Such a diversified field would make securing federal contracts and expanding the region’s economic footprint in the defense sector much easier.

The Time to Act Is Now

With industry leaders like Archer making significant advancements, West Virginia must take decisive steps to establish itself as a player in the AAM ecosystem.

The aforementioned Deloitte study lays out several factors that make WV an attractive candidate for AAM expansion:

• The state’s location is within 500 miles of 40% of the U.S. population.
• WV’s mountainous and remote terrain and low air traffic congestion offer variable conditions for testing emerging AAM technologies, especially before fully integrating into cities.
• Owing to the terrain and the general disrepair of the state’s road system (the sixth largest in the country despite its small size!), there is local demand for alternate forms of transportation.

Additionally, by leveraging partnerships with institutions like Marshall University and West Virginia University, which have strong aviation and engineering programs, West Virginia can help build the workforce needed to support this industry’s expansion. (And that’s not mentioning the MCRA’s groundbreaking K-16 UAS education program, bolstered by procuring a low-cost, mobile airspace monitoring unit.)

Moreover, the financial momentum behind AAM highlights the importance of proactive investment. Regions failing to act risk being left behind as funding, infrastructure, and job opportunities migrate to more forward-thinking locales. West Virginia has the chance to position itself as a leader in this field. Unfortunately, the window of opportunity won’t stay open indefinitely.

Seizing the Future of AAM

Archer’s latest funding round serves as a reminder that AAM is an industry in motion.

For West Virginia, embracing this shift means attracting investment, creating jobs, and solidifying its role in a sector poised for exponential growth. Organizations like Vertx Partners are already working to bridge the gap between emerging technologies and the region’s businesses. Still, broader support from policymakers, industry leaders, and educational institutions will be crucial.

The future of AAM is being shaped today. Vertx believes the question for West Virginia isn’t whether AAM will take off – it’s whether the state will be on board when it does.