The U.S. Marine Corps Warfighting Lab (MCWL) has awarded a $10 million contract to REGENT Craft to continue testing its electric seaglider, following the successful completion of an earlier $4.75 million agreement.
REGENT, a Rhode Island-based company, completed the first phase of testing earlier this month. That contract included 12 deliverables, including small-scale prototype tests and full-scale sea trials in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island.
The next phase will focus on evaluating the seaglider’s use for medical evacuations and logistics in contested maritime environments. The Marine Corps is looking at alternative ways to move people and supplies without relying on traditional runways or roads.
The Viceroy seaglider is a boat-plane hybrid that flies just above the water. It can travel up to 180 miles at speeds of 180 mph. It takes off and lands on water, reducing the need for vulnerable infrastructure. It also uses electric power, allowing it to recharge from shore or ships instead of needing fuel deliveries.
REGENT CEO Billy Thalheimer said the platform addresses a logistics gap in the Indo-Pacific, where the U.S. is focused on moving forces between island chains. “We want something affordable and mass-produced. We don’t have enough boats. The nation is working on our shipbuilding capabilities,” he said. “We want something easy to operate and easy to crew.”
Thalheimer also pointed to the cost of fuel as a concern. “A gallon of fuel in the U.S. costs about $6. That can rise to $100 or more when it’s delivered to remote islands,” he said. Electric vehicles, he added, offer a simpler and cheaper alternative in such environments.
The Marine Corps has not said when the seaglider might be deployed but is continuing tests as part of its focus on maritime mobility.
REGENT is also preparing for production. In January, it broke ground on a manufacturing facility in North Kingstown, Rhode Island. The facility is expected to open in 2026. Last week, REGENT submitted its Viceroy Design Basis Agreement to the U.S. Coast Guard, a step toward maritime certification.
