Regent Craft inaugurates Rhode Island Seaglider manufacturing facility, as Marine Corps adds US$5 to contract

With first customer deliveries slated for late 2027, Regent Craft, developer of the all-electric Seaglider, is moving its Viceroy all-electric seaglider vessel from prototype to production.

Rhode Island-based Regent Craft has opened the world’s first Seaglider production plant, while the Marine Corps has extended its contract with the company by $5million, as the manufacturer of the all-electric, hydrofoiling vessels moves toward production at scale.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new facility was attended by representatives from Japan Airlines, The TwentyFive, Breeze Airways, Marine Corps, US Coast Guard and Alaska Airlines.

The 255,000 sq.ft. facility was officially completed in June, but was unveiled publicly with a live demonstration of the Viceroy Seaglider prototype flying in ground effect. It follows the prototype’s first human-crewed flight on 2 September in Narrangansett Bay.

“We proved the technology and the demand; now we build,” said Billy Thalheimer, co-founder and CEO of Regent. “We’re now moving from prototype to production and putting Seaglider vessels in customers’ hands.”

Ramping up Seaglider’s production

As well as dedicated areas for structural assembly, the new manufacturing plant incorporates areas for wing and hydrofoil integration, battery and systems installation, and water-based test and acceptance operations. Direct waterfront access will support continued sea trials.

Regent expects the site to reach 75 Viceroy vessels and 300 Squire Seaglider drones a year, with capacity increased in phases as demand grows. First customer deliveries are expected in late 2027.

Multi-million-dollar funding

The company has raised US$340 million to date, including its recent $240 million Series B funding round. It says it has already reinvested $71.5 million in the local economy and has pledged to create up to 750 jobs over the next decade.

“This is what reindustrialising America looks like: a cutting-edge facility, a first-rate team, and a product the world wants,” continued Thalheimer.

Regent expanding on defence contracts

Regent’s order book spans six continents with defence a particularly focus. Its work with the Marine Corp’s Warfighting Lab (MCWL) has grown in stages: a $4.75 million base contract validating the Seaglider’s technical feasibility, a $9.5 million phase to advance full-scale prototype demonstrations. This lates phase adds $5 million in mission dollars and includes six deliverables centred on demonstrating the full-scale Seaglider prototype’s capabilities in operationally relevant environments. Regent puts its total Marine Corps contracts at $20 million.

“This next phase of our partnership is about putting the technology in the hands of the war fighter, so they fully realised the advantages Seagliders bring to the forward-operating areas,” said Becky Russon, Director, Defense Mission Integration at Seaglider.

The company says the 12-passenger Viceroy can carry personnel and equipment at up to 180mph on routes up to 180 miles, take off from land and water, and recharge from shore and ship. It also says that flyging within one wingspan of the surface keeps the craft below radar and above high-range sonar, while its electric propulsion system reduces its heat and infrared signature.

Commercial customers already in the pipeline

On the civilian side, Regent aims to link cities and islands directly, without passengers passing through an airport. Coastal travel operater The TwentyFive has agreed to be Regent’s US launch and first domestic delivery partner with an order for up to 60 Viceroy aircraft.