Aviation News – REGENT’s autonomous REGENT Squire seaglider Silent Swarm Michigan deployment successfully executed simulated electronic warfare missions during two weeks of military exercises at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center.
The autonomous wing-in-ground (WIG) effect vehicle participated in Silent Swarm 2026 from July 13–24, testing experimental military hardware in contested multi-domain environments. Operating across land, water, and air domains, the Squire seaglider joined a fleet of small, uncrewed systems subjected to real-world electromagnetic countermeasures.
Throughout the nearly two-week operational trial, the uncrewed vessel carried specialized military payloads designed for electronic attack, electronic protection, and electronic warfare support. The exercise aimed to demonstrate the platform’s multi-mission versatility and its ability to seamlessly coordinate with joint military assets under complex tactical conditions.
Flying on an aerodynamic cushion of air within a wingspan of the water’s surface, wing-in-ground effect craft provide low-observable, high-speed maritime mobility below radar coverage. Deploying modular electronic warfare equipment on a surface-skimming uncrewed craft minimizes radar detection while expanding distributed non-kinetic capabilities in contested littoral zones.
“Participating in multi-domain exercises like Silent Swarm allows us to rigorously validate autonomous operational concepts in realistic threat environments,” stated a defense technology representative. “Demonstrating mission versatility alongside joint forces reinforces the strategic value of uncrewed maritime platforms in modern electronic warfare operations.”
The successful trials mark an important milestone for REGENT as it advances its autonomous WIG technology for defense applications. Insights gained from the Michigan exercise will inform ongoing software integration and payload development for future uncrewed maritime operations.
