Korean Air has begun work with U.S. flying taxi startup Archer Aviation to convert the electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, the Midnight eVTOL, for military use.

On Aug. 5, in local time, IT outlet TechRadar reported that South Korea is seeking aircraft suited to troop transport and short-range military missions based on an existing flying taxi platform, rather than developing a new military aircraft from scratch.

The core of the cooperation is to modify Archer’s existing Midnight aircraft to meet South Korean military standards. Korean Air will take charge of modifications needed for military operations. Archer will provide technical support and support the airworthiness certification process. The companies expect this approach to shorten development and deployment time and reduce engineering and certification burdens compared with designing a new aircraft from scratch.

The military model is being reviewed to support troop transport, cargo transport, medical evacuation, search and rescue and other special operations. The aircraft must also have flexible short-range aerial manoeuvring capability. The Midnight currently seats 4 people, can fly about 161 km and has a top speed of about 241 km per hour. In terms of performance, it falls into a category suited to relatively short missions rather than long-range capabilities.

The project goes beyond securing a military transport platform and is also linked to South Korea’s future aviation industry strategy. A Korean Air official said, "Developing military advanced air mobility is a blue-ocean opportunity for Korea to secure future core air power and industrial leadership." The official added, "Using cooperation with Archer as a stepping stone, we will seize an important period in AAM development and create a new defence export model."

The Midnight has previously been evaluated by the U.S. Air Force, raising the possibility that the U.S. Air Force could pursue a similar aircraft in the future. The decision comes as militaries in several countries review introducing eVTOL aircraft that are quieter and offer flexible operations.

The cooperation is also expected to have ripple effects on certification. Archer’s certification process with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration could serve as reference material for South Korea as it prepares an eVTOL certification framework. Korean Air expects technical knowledge accumulated through the Midnight project to help regulators refine systems and prepare for future commercial operations as well.

The trend also connects to South Korea’s urban air mobility business. South Korea’s UAM programme plans to introduce commercial flying taxi services in 2028. If military demand first raises production capacity, it could also help secure a supply base when private operators later place large-scale orders.

However, the timing of actual introduction has not been set. Korean Air and Archer have not disclosed a delivery timetable for the military aircraft, and certification and procurement schedules require follow-up decisions by the two governments. The contract therefore has a strong character of setting direction and validating a platform for introducing military eVTOL, and future certification and procurement procedures are expected to determine the project’s pace.