The future of maritime defense takes flight with REGENT’s Squire Seaglider drone
North Kingstown, R.I., April 13, 2026 — REGENT, the developer and manufacturer of SeagliderTM vessels, today announced the successful ground-effect flight of Squire, its autonomous Seaglider drone built for defense missions. This milestone represents the first time a defense-specific wing-in-ground effect (WIG) craft has flown in the United States, positioning the U.S. to overtake China in this critical technology space.
The flight demonstration marks the latest achievement in REGENT’s ongoing Squire test campaign and underscores the company’s deliberate prioritization of the platform in response to urgent defense needs. REGENT is advancing Squire and other defense-specific Seaglider vessels to support the U.S. and its allies with modern maritime capabilities as they address the growing threat posed by China in the Indo-Pacific.
“This successful flight milestone is a major success for our defense program and a strong signal of what Seaglider technology can deliver for the warfighter,” said Billy Thalheimer, co-founder and CEO of REGENT. “There are no products in the market today that combine the speed and wave tolerance of Squire at such a compelling price point. This will revolutionize maritime warfare.”
Fighting Edge for Maritime Defense
Seaglider vessels are wing-in-ground (WIG) craft that fly on an aerodynamically efficient cushion of air within a wingspan of the surface of the water, enabling efficient, long-range performance that is below line-of-sight radar. With speeds up to 70 knots (81 mph), a planned operational range of more than 100 nautical miles, and a 50-pound payload, Squire can enable critical defense missions including intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR); tailored logistics; search and rescue; and anti-submarine warfare.
“Defense customers require platforms that can operate across wide maritime areas with speed, range, and mission flexibility, without relying on traditional and often vulnerable infrastructure,” said Tom Huntley, General Manager of REGENT Defense. “Squire is designed to meet that exact need. This demonstration shows real progress toward delivering a high-speed autonomous capability for missions such as ISR, tailored logistics, and anti-submarine warfare.”
Interest in Squire and the broader REGENT Defense portfolio continues to grow. Earlier this year, REGENT leadership presented Squire to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and executive staff, outlining how Seaglider vessels can support a range of critical missions for the warfighter. During that discussion, Hegseth emphasized the urgent need to close operational gaps in areas such as contested logistics and highlighted the importance of emerging defense companies like REGENT moving with speed to deliver mission-ready capabilities to the field.
Expansive Seaglider Test Campaign
The demonstration also highlights the breadth of REGENT’s Seaglider test campaign. In parallel with Squire’s development, REGENT is currently conducting sea trials of its 12-passenger Viceroy Seaglider prototype in Rhode Island, advancing both its commercial and defense programs through continuous real-world testing. REGENT has a global commercial backlog of more than $10 billion and a $15 million contract with the U.S. Marine Corps.
Since the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. regulator for Seaglider vessels, cleared Squire for testing last year, REGENT has been validating systems, controls, and operational envelopes step by step. Moving forward, REGENT will continue to expand Squire performance, autonomy, and operational capabilities for mission-ready maritime operations.
About REGENT Defense
REGENT Defense is addressing a critical national security gap in the maritime domain by delivering high-speed, long-range, low-signal Seaglider vessels, which provide the warfighter with a flexible and survivable option for contested logistics, MEDEVAC, ISR, and other mission-critical operations. In addition to a defense variant of REGENT’s commercial, all-electric, crewed Viceroy Seaglider vessel, REGENT Defense is developing a broader product line that includes a fully autonomous Viceroy vessel, hybrid Seaglider configurations, and Squire, an autonomous Seaglider USA-V (Unmanned Surface and Aerial Vehicle) drone.
About REGENT
REGENT is pioneering the future of maritime mobility through the development and manufacturing of SeagliderTM vessels, high-speed hydrofoiling wing-in-ground effect (WIG) craft that operate over the water within a wingspan of the surface, combining the speed of an aircraft with the convenience of a boat. A dual use company based in Rhode Island, U.S., REGENT has secured global commercial orders valued at more than $10 billion from leading airline and ferry operators around the world, as well as $15 million in contracts with the U.S. Marine Corps. REGENT has raised more than $100 million from investors including 8090 Industries, Founders Fund, Japan Airlines, and Lockheed Martin.
REGENT Craft Press Team: regent@boldspace.com