The Squire sea glider model developed by REGENT (a US technology company specializing in developing sea gliders, a hybrid vehicle between ships and aircraft) has just completed an important test flight, when it can glide close to the water surface with high stability.
This result marks a significant step forward in bringing seaglider technology, a vehicle combining ships and aircraft, closer to practical application, especially in the field of defense.
Squire is a new generation unmanned platform, allowing it to fly at very low altitudes right above the sea surface. In recent tests, the vehicle has proven its smooth operation, maintaining speed and good control in wave conditions, opening up prospects for deployment in military missions.
According to Mr. Billy Thalheimer, co-founder and CEO of REGENT, this is an important milestone for the company's defense development program.
Mr. Billy Thalheimer believes that sea glider technology can bring great advantages in speed and adaptability, contributing to changing the way of combat at sea in the future.
Squire can reach a maximum speed of about 70 knots/hour (equivalent to 130 km/h) and operate within a range of over 100 nautical miles (about 185 km).
With a hybrid design, the vehicle can both move flexibly like a ship and take advantage of lift power like an airplane to accelerate and reduce drag.
Notably, Squire is capable of carrying a payload of up to 50 pounds (about 23 kg), serving many tasks such as logistics transportation, medical evacuation or reconnaissance and surveillance.
Another strength of this platform is its discreet operation. Thanks to flying low close to the water surface, Squire can reduce the risk of being detected, while expanding its operating range compared to traditional surface vehicles.
This is especially important in the context that military forces are looking for flexible, faster and more effective solutions for sea missions.
First introduced at the Seabee Museum (California, USA) earlier this year, Squire quickly attracted the attention of the US military.
Squire is seen as a potential option to fill the gap in logistics and force deployment.
If it continues to pass further tests, sea glider technology could become an important part of the unmanned marine vehicle ecosystem.
