A sleek, winged vessel glided across the surface of Narragansett Bay, offering a glimpse into the future of coastal transportation and military mobility. Called the Paladin, this week’s Weapon of the Week is a passenger ferry that operates in three modes — float, foil and fly — and is being developed by Massachusetts-based startup REGENT Craft.
The Paladin, a 65-foot vessel with a nose resembling an aircraft, uses ground effect to skim just above the water’s surface. This aerodynamic phenomenon, also used by seabirds like pelicans, allows the vessel to travel faster and more efficiently than traditional boats.
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What is the Paladin ferry?
REGENT Craft refers to the Paladin as a seaglider, a hybrid between a boat and an aircraft. Twelve propellers line its wingspan, and a hydrofoil beneath the hull lifts the vessel out of the water. As a result, it enables smoother acceleration and improved wave tolerance.
“Seagliders have a hydrofoil — an underwater wing — borrowed from racing sailboats like those in the America’s Cup,” said Billy Thalheimer, REGENT Craft co-founder and CEO. “This gives us five feet of wave tolerance, essentially hurricane-level conditions, allowing acceleration up to 50 to 60 mph before takeoff.”
The commercial version is designed to reach speeds of 180 mph, powered by a battery system equivalent to seven Tesla vehicles. Due to the large battery system, it can complete hour-long missions on a single charge and operate in waves up to five feet, making it suitable for coastal and island-hopping routes.
REGENT has secured $15 million in contracts with the U.S. Marine Corps and is working to adapt Seagliders for military use in the Pacific. These defense-focused models may swap electric batteries for jet fuel to extend operational range.
“We’re approaching larger acquisition programs and collaborating with allied defense departments to integrate Seagliders into national security strategies,” Thalheimer said.
Who might deploy the Paladin?
In addition to the Marine Corps, REGENT has partnered with U.S. Special Operations Command and the U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development Center.
“In less than five years, we’ve built a full-scale prototype with safety systems ready for human crews,” Thalheimer said. “We’re now just a couple of years away from delivering to both commercial and defense customers.”
With its futuristic design and versatile capabilities, the Paladin may soon become a fixture in both civilian and military fleets — redefining how people and troops move across the water.
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