REGENT Craft, the U.S.-based manufacturer of next-generation Seaglider vessels and a key partner of the U.S. Marine Corps, has officially launched a new division, REGENT Defense, unveiling its advanced line of military-focused Seaglider maritime craft at the Reindustrialize Summit in Detroit. This move underscores REGENT s dual-use strategy, bridging commercial and defense innovation to address the growing threat landscape in the Indo-Pacific region.

With a $10 billion commercial backlog, REGENT is expanding its Rhode Island manufacturing operations to support military production. The company s proprietary hydrofoiling wing-in-ground-effect (WIG) Seaglider design delivers a powerful mix of speed (up to 160 knots), extended range (up to 1,400 nautical miles), and low signature, all at significantly reduced operational costs compared to traditional maritime platforms.

We re equipping the American warfighter with urgently needed mobility solutions while revitalizing U.S. manufacturing, said Billy Thalheimer, REGENT CEO and Co-Founder.

Maritime Mobility Reimagined

As Type A WIG craft, Seaglider vessels operate just above the ocean surface, staying beneath radar and above sonar, making them ideally suited for contested maritime zones. Their unique design supports a wide range of military missions, including:

• Troop and supply logistics
• Medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) and search and rescue
• Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR)
• Launch and deployment of uncrewed systems

ISR, MEDEVAC, and other maritime defense missions will be supported through the new line of high-speed, long-range, low-signature marine craft, which builds off the company s composites-intensive Viceroy.

These platforms are optimized for complex and contested environments, providing scalable, low-cost solutions for maritime operations, said Tom Huntley, General Manager of REGENT Defense.

Next-Gen Seaglider Fleet

REGENT Defense s new product line includes:

• A defense-configured Viceroy Seaglider with all-electric and hybrid variants (3,500 lb payload, up to 160 knots, 1,400 nm range).
• A fully autonomous Viceroy model for unmanned missions.
• A quarter-scale autonomous vessel called Squire (50 lb payload, 70 knots, 100+ nm range).

These systems are designed to meet a variety of tactical and strategic needs while enabling distributed operations in remote or contested waters.

Source: www.regentcraft.com