Company advances full-scale Viceroy Seaglider prototype and Squire Seaglider drone testing while scaling toward commercial production in Rhode Island.
REGENT, the developer and manufacturer of SeagliderTM vessels, today announced the start of its 2026 test campaign as the company continues testing its Viceroy Seaglider prototype and autonomous Squire Seaglider drone. The campaign marks an important step toward bringing a new category of high-speed maritime mobility to market for commercial and defense applications.
REGENT is actively testing its full-scale Viceroy Seaglider prototype, a 12-passenger electric vessel designed to operate over water in float, foil, and flight modes, at its headquarters in North Kingstown, R.I. The company is continuing its hydro foiling campaign and progressing toward first flight with humans on board this year.
Across the broader program, REGENT is also continuing to test and optimize Squire, its autonomous Seaglider drone, validating systems, controls, and operational envelopes step by step through an ongoing test campaign.
Following a winter focused on design improvements, data review, and simulation, REGENT has entered 2026 with a comprehensive testing effort spanning both on-water operations and simulation-based development. These efforts are helping the company further refine vehicle performance, de-risk operations, and accelerate readiness for commercial service and defense applications.
“2026 is a defining year for REGENT as we continue advancing from prototype testing toward scaled production,” said Billy Thalheimer, co-founder and CEO of REGENT. “Demand for Seagliders is growing quickly across both commercial and defense markets, and we’re focused on continuing to prove the technology, scale production, and prepare for entry into service.”

“Sea trials are where breakthrough engineering is tested, refined, and proven,” said Mike Klinker, co-founder and CTO of REGENT. “Every hour on the water, every simulation, and every data point helps us validate our systems, improve performance, ensure high safety standards and reinforce our robust technical moat.”
From prototype to production
As testing progresses, REGENT is also scaling its manufacturing operations to meet growing demand across commercial and defense markets. The company is preparing to open its 255,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Rhode Island this summer, where it will build its commercial Seaglider vessels. REGENT expects its first customer deliveries in 2027.
REGENT is scaling production to meet growing demand across commercial and defense markets. The company’s commercial order book now exceeds $10 billion, including recent orders from The XXV in the United States 和 Synerjet in Brazil. REGENT is also advancing its defense work, including an expanded contract with the U.S. Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory and recent discussions with defense leaders on Seaglider applications for contested logistics.
Together, REGENT’s 2026 test campaign and manufacturing scale-up mark the company’s next major step toward bringing Seaglider vessels into service and establishing Rhode Island as a hub for next-generation maritime manufacturing.
关于 REGENT
REGENT 通过开发和制造 SeagliderTM 船只,正引领海上交通的未来, 这是一种高速水翼翼地效应(WIG)船舶,能在水面极近处飞行,兼具飞机的速度与船只的便捷性。 作为一家总部位于美国罗德岛州的军民两用企业,REGENT已从全球领先的航空公司和渡轮运营商处获得价值超过100亿美元的商业订单,并与美国海军陆战队签订了价值1500万美元的合同。 REGENT已从包括8090 Industries、Founders Fund、日本航空和洛克希德·马丁在内的投资者处筹集了超过1.41亿美元的资金。.
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