FutureFlight
Lockheed Martin Backs Sea Glider Developer Regent with Strategic Investment
The funding is the defense group's latest foray into advanced air mobility following its backing for start-ups including Electra, Elroy Air, H3X, and Hidden Level.
Regent's Viceroy electric sea glider is expected to carry 12 passengers on coastal routes of up to 180 miles.
Regent has conducted trials with a quarter-scale technology demonstrator version of its Viceroy electric sea glider. (Image: Regent)

Lockheed Martin Ventures has made a strategic investment in Regent, which is working to bring passenger-carrying wing-in-ground-effect (WIG) sea gliders to market in 2025. The Rhode Island-based start-up did not disclose how much funding the defense group is providing but said the deal announced on March 22 will give its team access to Lockheed Martin’s facilities and expertise in developing sea gliders for military applications.

Regent noted that it recently started development of a full-scale prototype for its 12-passenger all-electric Viceroy model, based on data gathered from flight testing last year with a remotely piloted, quarter-scale technology demonstrator called the Squire. It now aims to start pilot-on-board testing with the Viceroy prototype in 2024.

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