Latest news with #REGENT
Arabian Business
20-05-2025
- Business
- Arabian Business
ADNOC L&S to trial 300kmph seaglider journeys in UAE
High-speed seagliders could replace helicopters in the UAE as businesses look for sustainable transport options for marine outposts. ADNOC Logistics and Services has selected US-based REGENT's electric seaglider for a proof-of-concept trial to assess the craft's suitability for transporting personnel to and from offshore energy infrastructure. The announcement was made at the Make it in the Emirates' event, currently taking place in Abu Dhabi. UAE seaglider trips REGENT's 'Viceroy' seaglider combines the speed of an aircraft with the convenience of a boat, offering high-speed, zero-emission transport. The proof-of-concept is the first phase in a potential multi-stage deployment that could see the technology incorporated more widely across ADNOC L&S's offshore logistics operations. REGENT will manufacture its electric seagliders in the UAE. It will also provide aftermarket services such as maintenance, boosting local manufacturing capabilities and strengthening the UAE's industrial base. The proof-of-concept trial will also be managed by a UAE-based seaglider operator, delivering additional in-country value and positioning the UAE as a hub for advanced maritime innovation. Captain Abdulkareem Al Masabi, CEO of ADNOC L&S, said: 'ADNOC L&S is committed to adopting innovative technologies that enhance the safety, sustainability and efficiency of our operations. This proof-of-concept trial with REGENT's seagliders marks an important milestone in our journey to decarbonise offshore logistics, while supporting 'Make it in the Emirates' through the development of future-ready maritime capabilities in the UAE.' The Viceroy can carry up to 12 passengers or 1,600 kilograms of cargo and is capable of speeds up to 300kmph (180mph) for routes up to 300km. It can operate in multiple modes: Floating Foiling Flying Compared with helicopters, the craft provides up to 80 per cent lower operational costs and is equipped with advanced sensors and automated controls to ensure safe and reliable operations. Billy Thalheimer, Co-founder and CEO of REGENT, said, 'REGENT could ask for no better end user for seagliders in the UAE than the largest energy producer in the country and leader in innovation and sustainability. 'Seagliders will drastically reduce the time, cost, and emissions of offshore energy logistics, and we look forward to working together to set a new standard for the energy industry.' The proof-of-concept trial aligns with ADNOC Group's broader Net Zero by 2045 ambition and supports the UAE's strategic objectives to foster innovation, sustainability and national industrial growth.
Zawya
20-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
ADNOC L&S partners with REGENT to trial high-speed electric seagliders for offshore transportation
ADNOC Logistics and Services plc (ADNOC L&S), a global energy maritime logistics leader, has selected US-based REGENT's electric seaglider for a proof-of-concept trial to assess the craft's suitability for transporting personnel to and from offshore energy infrastructure. The announcement was made at the 'Make it in the Emirates' event, currently taking place in Abu Dhabi. REGENT's 'Viceroy' seaglider – a next-generation maritime craft – combines the speed of an aircraft with the convenience of a boat, offering high-speed, zero-emission transport. The proof-of-concept is the first phase in a potential multi-stage deployment that could see the technology incorporated more widely across ADNOC L&S's offshore logistics operations. REGENT will manufacture its electric seagliders in the UAE. It will also provide aftermarket services such as maintenance, boosting local manufacturing capabilities and strengthening the UAE's industrial base. The proof-of-concept trial will also be managed by a UAE-based seaglider operator, delivering additional in-country value and positioning the UAE as a hub for advanced maritime innovation. Captain Abdulkareem Al Masabi, CEO of ADNOC L&S, said, 'ADNOC L&S is committed to adopting innovative technologies that enhance the safety, sustainability and efficiency of our operations. This proof-of-concept trial with REGENT's seagliders marks an important milestone in our journey to decarbonise offshore logistics, while supporting 'Make it in the Emirates' through the development of future-ready maritime capabilities in the UAE.' The Viceroy can carry up to 12 passengers or 1,600 kilograms of cargo and is capable of speeds up to 300 kilometers per hour (180mph) for routes up to 300km. Its ability to operate in multiple modes – floating, foiling and flying – offers unique versatility and comfort for offshore transport. Compared with helicopters, the craft provides up to 80% lower operational costs and is equipped with advanced sensors and automated controls to ensure safe and reliable operations. Billy Thalheimer, Co-founder and CEO of REGENT, said, 'REGENT could ask for no better end user for seagliders in the UAE than the largest energy producer in the country and leader in innovation and sustainability. Seagliders will drastically reduce the time, cost, and emissions of offshore energy logistics, and we look forward to working together to set a new standard for the energy industry.' The proof-of-concept trial aligns with ADNOC Group's broader Net Zero by 2045 ambition and supports the UAE's strategic objectives to foster innovation, sustainability and national industrial growth.
Al Etihad
20-05-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
ADNOC L&S partners with REGENT to trial high-speed electric seagliders for offshore transportation
20 May 2025 16:46 ABU DHABI (WAM)ADNOC Logistics and Services plc (ADNOC L&S), a global energy maritime logistics leader, has selected US-based REGENT's electric seaglider for a proof-of-concept trial to assess the craft's suitability for transporting personnel to and from offshore energy announcement was made at the 'Make it in the Emirates' event, currently taking place in Abu 'Viceroy' seaglider – a next-generation maritime craft – combines the speed of an aircraft with the convenience of a boat, offering high-speed, zero-emission proof-of-concept is the first phase in a potential multi-stage deployment that could see the technology incorporated more widely across ADNOC L&S's offshore logistics will manufacture its electric seagliders in the UAE. It will also provide aftermarket services such as maintenance, boosting local manufacturing capabilities and strengthening the UAE's industrial base. The proof-of-concept trial will also be managed by a UAE-based seaglider operator, delivering additional in-country value and positioning the UAE as a hub for advanced maritime Abdulkareem Al Masabi, CEO of ADNOC L&S, said, 'ADNOC L&S is committed to adopting innovative technologies that enhance the safety, sustainability and efficiency of our operations. This proof-of-concept trial with REGENT's seagliders marks an important milestone in our journey to decarbonise offshore logistics, while supporting 'Make it in the Emirates' through the development of future-ready maritime capabilities in the UAE.'The Viceroy can carry up to 12 passengers or 1,600 kilograms of cargo and is capable of speeds up to 300 kilometers per hour (180mph) for routes up to 300km. Its ability to operate in multiple modes – floating, foiling and flying – offers unique versatility and comfort for offshore with helicopters, the craft provides up to 80% lower operational costs and is equipped with advanced sensors and automated controls to ensure safe and reliable Thalheimer, Co-founder and CEO of REGENT, said, 'REGENT could ask for no better end user for seagliders in the UAE than the largest energy producer in the country and leader in innovation and sustainability. Seagliders will drastically reduce the time, cost, and emissions of offshore energy logistics, and we look forward to working together to set a new standard for the energy industry.' The proof-of-concept trial aligns with ADNOC Group's broader Net Zero by 2045 ambition and supports the UAE's strategic objectives to foster innovation, sustainability and national industrial growth.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Seaglider Aims To Deliver Small Groups Of Marines Low Over The Waves
As the Marines prepare for future fights in the Pacific, they are investigating the use of the Viceroy Seaglider to quickly and quietly deliver troops and cargo and provide other critical functions. Under development by the Rhode Island-based REGENT company, the craft will be powered by 12 electric motors and runs on batteries. It is designed to carry 12 passengers or 3,500 pounds of cargo, all while swiftly skimming the surface of the ocean, allowing it to avoid enemy sensors. It uses a hydrofoil to get airborne and then can cruise efficiently in ground effect over the water. Since it will operate without the need for a runway, it will be able to access remote locales with little infrastructure. 'We're primarily looking at it for our contested logistics,' Matthew Koch, a project manager for the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory (MCWL), told us from the showroom floor at the Modern Day Marine symposium in Washington D.C. 'There is a gap right now for high speed transport, and this fits this gap.' This craft is also envisioned to perform reconnaissance, infil, exfil, special operations missions, casualty and medical evacuations, and 'replace sorties and UH-1 helicopter runs. And that's just the start of what we can see there,' Koch added. Koch, whose unit is a division of the Marine Corps' Combat Development and Integration (CD&I) Command, is tasked with advising leadership on capabilities to help inform future requirements. The Viceroy offers several advantages, he explained. The fact that it is a dual-use technology already of high-interest from airlines and ferry companies is key, he noted to us. Tom Huntley, REGENT's VP of Government Relations and Defense, told us Viceroy will enter into commercial service in 2027. 'By leveraging the commercial technology, we're getting something that's significantly affordable,' Koch stated, adding that it avoids the lengthy process of presenting capabilities needs to industry and waiting for a solution. 'We are leveraging what's currently available in the military or in the commercial world for military applications and modifying it as needed,' he said. 'Right now, we're looking at a price point between $5 million and $7 million a copy. It provides us the high-speed, low-signature transport at a cost-effective price point.' The Viceroy, a hydrofoiling wing-in-ground (WIG) effect craft, 'is currently in sea trials,' REGENT Mission Assurance Manager Kristin Pedersen told us. The WIG design allows a craft to move at efficiently at higher speeds because it does not suffer from the drag associated with typical ship designs, while also benefiting from the lift generated by a wing. 'Our Seaglider goes through three phases of transportation – float, foil and fly, and our sea trials will mirror that as a progressive step,' Pedersen told us. 'So we're currently in the float stage of that three-phase approach for sea trials.' The Viceroy is scheduled to undergo testing on its hydrofoil capabilities in the early summer and flight testing by the end of the summer, she added. As we have previously noted, the WIG concept certainly is not new, but prior attempts to employ it on a large scale have generated limited success, particularly for military purposes. From our prior reporting: 'The Soviet Union remains the most notable operator of military WIG designs, known in Russian as ekranoplans – a term now widely used as a catch-all for WIG designs – but even there their service was limited. Efforts to revive military ekranoplans in Russia in recent years have so far not produced any operational types.' The video below shows the only Lun, a cruise missile-armed design, that the Soviet Union ever completed being moved in the Caspian Sea in 2020 as part of a plan to put it on display. High-speed sea-skimming flight presents challenges, including the risk of collisions with various objects on the surface or even just high cresting waves. Koch, the MCWL project manager, said Viceroy's hydrofoil addresses some of those concerns. 'The hydrofoil is actually one of the key technologies to help the Seaglider come to life,' he suggested. 'Typical seaplanes or wing-in-ground craft in the past have had limitations due to how much they can take on the sea state. By operating on the actively controlled hydrofoils, it brings the craft out of the water and reduces the amount of craft that's being surfaced with water.' 'The hydrofoils allow us to be five feet above the waves,' Pedersen offered. 'You're operating outside of the water, so you're not as susceptible to those waves to be able to smoothly transition into that flight mode.' In addition, 'the seaglider uses numerous sensor systems to provide a blended solution to the operators, enhancing situational awareness and providing hazard identification,' REGENT spokesperson Kirsten Salyer told us. 'The triple redundant automated vehicle control system enables captains to navigate left/right and fast/slow control inputs.' Once the hydrofoils are deployed, the Viceroy is designed to go from floating at 12 knots to speeding up to 45 knots and then taking off, operating in ground effect mode, Koch posited. Once airborne, it reaches speeds up to 180 knots. It can take off in Sea State of 3-plus and land in Sea State 5, Pedersen added. These two Sea States are characterized by wind speeds of 7 to 10 knots and 17 to 21 knots, as well as wave heights between two and three feet and five feet and six and eight feet, respectively. The Viceroy design offers another advantage, Koch stated It has 'very interesting signature properties,' he stated. Because it is not a vessel, it operates with far less wake, which can make a ship more visible to adversary sensors. The electric motors reduce its heat signature. In addition, the Viceroy is designed to fly at about 30 feet above the surface, allowing it to fly under radar coverage and above sonar coverage, according to the company. Under its current configuration, the Viceroy has a range of about 180 miles. Future iterations with hybrid-electrical powerplants arrangement could enable it to travel nearly 1,000 miles. The aircraft is designed to be transportable by large cargo aircraft, like the C-17, and it can recharge from really any electrical power source, which opens up fuel independent operations. This could be of a big advantage in the Pacific where fuel distribution will be under pressure. The U.S. Coast Guard has approved REGENT's Navigational Safety Risk Assessment for the prototype, which allows REGENT to test with humans on board in Narragansett Bay and Rhode Island Sound, the company stated. REGENT has also submitted its Viceroy Design Basis Agreement with the U.S. Coast Guard. The Seaglider concept is one of several WIG craft that the U.S. military is considering to solve the problems of delivering troops and cargo quickly over vast bodies of water, while limiting their vulnerability to enemy weapon systems. As we noted earlier in the week, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has the Liberty Lifter X-plane program. Its core goal is to produce a flying transport design that employs the WIG effect principle. You can read more about that program in our story here. So far, the Marines have made a low-cost bet on this concept. In March, REGENT was awarded a $10 million contract to allow it 'to demonstrate their full-size prototypes and multiple military demonstrations, which we will use to help inform future requirements,' Koch said. That follows a $4.75 million contract signed in 2023 to demonstrate the technological feasibility of Viceroy. There is still a long way to go before this craft joins the Marine arsenal, if it does at all. The fact that MCWL has invested time and money into the concept, though, shows there's a real interest in it. Contact the author: howard@
Fox News
27-03-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Marine Corps bets on electric seagliders 'invisible' to enemy radar for medevac missions at sea
Regent's all-electric boat-plane hybrid project got a major boost from the government this week. The Marine Corps Warfighting Lab extended its collaboration with Regent with an estimated $10 million contract on Wednesday, following the successful completion of a $4.75 million contract. This new phase of testing will focus on examining its seaglider's capabilities on medical evacuation missions. For CEO Billy Thalheimer, a new era of global conflict centered on the Indo-Pacific represents a "reversion to World War II-style tactics," and the needs of the Pentagon will be once again focused on maritime operations instead of desert warfare like the war on terror in the Middle East. Thalheimer said Regent identified the "capability gap" in the logistics of moving troops and supplies between island chains in the Indo-Pacific. "We want something affordable and mass-produced. We do not have enough boats, the nation is working on our shipbuilding capabilities, we want something easy to operate and easy to crew, because it currently takes two years to train a pilot," he said. The seaglider travels up to 180 miles at up to 180mph speed. It can take off and land on water, "eliminating the need for vulnerable runway infrastructure," according to the company. The aircraft is all-electric, which Thalheimer says makes it easier to refuel anywhere there is electricity, rather than having to transport in gas. "You think about a gallon of fuel today, you know, $6. If we're buying it in the U.S., which can go to 100 to $150 when it's delivered to those, disparate island chains," he said. Regent's Viceroy, which holds 12 passengers with a 65-foot wingspan, completed a successful sea test on Rhode Island's Narragansett Bay earlier this month. Regent's "float, foil, fly" motto describes the flight path of the seaglider: First, it floats on the ocean's surface, then as it picks up speed it "foils," meaning it gliders over the water's surface with wing-like structures known as hydrofoils, which then retract as it lifts into the air. The vehicle leverages "ground effect," avoiding the turbulence of the sky by hovering just around 30 feet in the air. The glider's earth-hugging flight path is also designed to avoid enemy radar. "There's this great opportunity to fly below radar, but really above sonar in this hard-to-see space." One key mission Regent hopes to fulfill is medical evacuations, given the quick turn-around its seagliders can have from floating on the sea near a port to flying. Regent has submitted its design basis agreement (DBA) to the Coast Guard for its Viceroy seaglider to the Coast Guard and expects approval next year. "We are incredibly proud to extend our collaboration with the U.S. Marine Corps Warfighting Lab and continue to validate how REGENT's high-speed, low-signature, low-cost seagliders will enable defense missions," said Tom Huntley, VP of Government Relations and Defense at REGENT. "The second phase of our agreement will demonstrate their use cases for contested logistics operations in the maritime domain, fulfilling a critical national security need." The company has garnered over $90 million in investment from investors including 8090 Industries, Founders Fund, Japan Airlines and Lockheed Martin.
