REGENT Squire Autonomous Seaglider

History

The REGENT Squire is an autonomous, uncrewed Seaglider developed for military maritime missions. It combines electric propulsion, hydrofoils and wing-in-ground-effect flight to move from floating operation to foilborne travel and then low-altitude flight above the water.

REGENT has presented Squire as a compact defense platform for missions including logistics, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, electronic warfare, search and rescue, and anti-submarine warfare. Current published figures describe a useful payload of about 22 kg (50 lb) and a range of approximately 100 nmi (185 km) or more.

Squire has progressed from test-vehicle work to autonomous ground-effect flight and participation in a US Navy experimental exercise. The available sources do not establish that the vehicle has entered operational military service.

Development and testing

REGENT developed Squire from its Seaglider technology as a smaller uncrewed platform related to the larger Viceroy passenger and cargo craft. In August 2025, REGENT described the Squire prototype as the company's original quarter-scale demonstrator, subsequently repurposed and optimized as a maritime defense test asset. The US Coast Guard cleared the prototype for remotely operated testing in Narragansett Bay and Rhode Island Sound. Contemporary company material cited speeds of up to 80 kt, a 50 lb payload and an operational range exceeding 100 nmi. The clearance and the prototype's defense role were reported by The Maritime Executive.

REGENT's wider defense Seaglider program also received US Marine Corps support. The company received a $4.75 million contract in 2023 to develop the Seaglider concept, followed by a $10 million funding effort covering operational testing for casualty evacuation and search-and-rescue missions. That testing was completed in November 2025. These awards concerned the broader Seaglider concept and are not identified in the supplied material as Squire procurement contracts.

In April 2026, REGENT completed a ground-effect flight demonstration with Squire. Coverage described the event as the autonomous craft's first or maiden flight in its defense configuration. The test demonstrated autonomous transition between the vehicle's operating modes. CompositesWorld reported a target speed of 70 kt, a 50 lb payload and a planned operational range exceeding 100 nmi. New Atlas likewise reported the April 2026 maiden flight and the autonomous transition between floating, hydrofoil and ground-effect operation.

Silent Swarm demonstration

In July 2026, Squire participated in the US Navy's two-week Silent Swarm exercise on the shores of Lake Michigan. The Navy described Silent Swarm as an experiment involving early-development electronic-warfare capabilities deployable by uncrewed systems.

REGENT used Squire as a platform for multiple electronic-warfare payloads, including equipment associated with electronic attack and protection. The demonstration placed the autonomous vehicle in an operationally relevant experimental environment, but the supplied sources do not indicate that the US Navy adopted Squire as an operational system.

Design

Squire is an electrically propelled maritime ground-effect vehicle designed to operate from the surface of the water without a conventional runway. Its operating concept combines a boat-like hull, retractable hydrofoils and a fixed wing. REGENT describes Seaglider vessels as craft that exploit aerodynamic ground effect close to the water, reducing drag and improving efficiency during low-altitude flight.

Hull and wing

The Squire described in August 2026 has a fuselage approximately 4 m (13 ft) long and a wing approximately 5.5 m across. Two outboard pontoon floats provide additional support on the water. REGENT's Seaglider vessels are described in the supplied material as using carbon-fiber composite construction.

Propulsion

Eight electrically driven propellers are mounted along the wing. The supplied sources do not provide motor power, battery capacity or detailed electrical-system specifications for Squire.

Float, foil and fly operation

Squire uses a three-stage operating sequence. It initially floats on its hull. As speed increases, retractable hydrofoils raise the hull above the water and reduce hydrodynamic drag. At sufficient speed, the vehicle transitions into wing-in-ground-effect flight and travels close to the water surface. The April 2026 test demonstrated autonomous transition through these operating modes.

Autonomy and mission equipment

Squire is an uncrewed autonomous platform. During Silent Swarm, REGENT used it to carry multiple electronic-warfare payloads. Other missions identified for the platform include intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, tailored logistics, search and rescue, and anti-submarine warfare. These roles describe demonstrated or proposed mission applications rather than evidence of operational deployment in each role.

Program status

As of August 2026, Squire had completed ground-effect flight testing and had taken part in a US Navy experimental event. REGENT was continuing to position the platform for defense missions, while the available sources did not identify a production order, operational operator or service-entry date.

Published performance figures have varied during the program. REGENT material reported in August 2025 cited speeds of up to 80 kt, while 2026 reporting associated with the defense-specific flight campaign and Silent Swarm described approximately 70 kt. Current 2026 material also describes a range of about 100 nmi or more and a payload of approximately 22 kg.

Specifications (REGENT Squire)

General characteristics

• Crew: Uncrewed, autonomous operation
• Length: approximately 4 m (13 ft)
• Wingspan: approximately 5.5 m
• Propulsion: eight electrically driven propellers
• Waterborne support: boat-like hull, retractable hydrofoils and two outboard pontoon floats
• Useful payload: approximately 22 kg (50 lb)

Performance

• Reported 2026 speed: approximately 70 kt (130 km/h)
• Range: approximately 100 nmi (185 km); company material also describes a planned operational range exceeding 100 nmi
• Flight regime: low-altitude wing-in-ground-effect operation above the water

Related equipment

• REGENT Viceroy: Larger Seaglider design using the same general float, foil and ground-effect operating concept. The supplied material describes a 20 m wingspan, 16.5 m length and a payload of approximately 1,590 kg, with crewed and autonomous operating options.