Rhode Island defense manufacturer REGENT has tested its Squire seaglider drone during the 13-day Silent Swarm US military exercise at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center in Michigan.
Silent Swarm, sponsored by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, is an annual event that evaluates multi-domain drones in electromagnetic spectrum operations.
During the activity, REGENT’s hybrid seaglider integrated payloads for use in electronic attack, electronic protection, and electronic warfare while navigating waterways below conventional line-of-sight radar coverage.
The overall event was led by the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane and drew participation from America’s joint forces.
Matching Warfighter Demands
“This demonstration proves Squire is ready to deliver the capability our warfighters urgently need,” REGENT CEO and co-founder Billy Thalheimer commented.
Meanwhile, Former Vice Chief of Naval Operations and REGENT Defense Advisory Board William Moran highlighted the platform’s rapid development pace, stating, “Squire’s performance at Silent Swarm demonstrates a program moving at the speed our warfighters need.”
“This is exactly the kind of capability and urgency the defense community should be paying attention to,” he added.
Squire’s trial comes after the aircraft’s inaugural flight last April and prior medical evacuation tests with the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab.
REGENT currently maintains a $15-million US Marine Corps contract as well as development initiatives with US Special Operations Command, the US Coast Guard, and international defense partners across four continents.
The Squire UAS
Classified as a wing-in-ground-effect unmanned surface and aerial vehicle, Squire seaglider flies within one wingspan of the water’s surface, or about 18 feet (5 meters).
It is powered by an eight-engine electric propulsion system to reach speeds up to 70 knots (81 miles/130 kilometers per hour) and an operational range exceeding 100 nautical miles (115 miles/185 kilometers).
The unmanned aerial system carries a 50-pound (23-kilogram) payload configured for scouting, equipment transport, search and rescue, and anti-submarine warfare.
