Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs)
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MGI Engineering has launched SeaGlide, an autonomous foiling Uncrewed Surface Vehicle (USV) designed for high-speed, low-signature performance in defense and security operations.
The all-electric vessel is intended for multi-role capabilities, ranging from covert reconnaissance to tactical logistics.
SeaGlide combines long-range endurance with near-silent propulsion and a compact hydrofoil design. It is capable of carrying up to 200kg of cargo for 150km all-electric at a cruise speed of 25 knots. Potential applications include Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), sensor deployment, tactical logistics, and communications relay in both offshore and littoral scenarios.
The military USV draws on MGI’s Formula One heritage in lightweight composites and advanced control systems. Its electric motors are housed within the fins, which lift the hull from the water using adjustable hydrofoils to reduce drag and enhance range. This engineering delivers agile handling, rapid transit, and low acoustic and radar signatures, even in variable sea states.
A key feature of SeaGlide is its compatibility with MGI’s Mosquito cargo Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), creating an integrated air-sea asset framework. This operational model allows airborne UAVs to deploy from ship, shore, or forward base, transfer payloads to or from the SeaGlide, and deliver them to remote coastal or island locations, all under autonomous control. This layered architecture aligns with the growing defense interest in networked unmanned systems that can operate across multiple domains.
The vessel’s Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS)-certified autonomy suite integrates AIS, radar, and optical sensing with advanced collision-avoidance and precision-docking software. This enables launch, transit, docking, and recovery without the need for human intervention. A hybrid-electric variant is currently in development to extend both range and payload capacity for heavier resupply or reconnaissance missions.
Mike Gascoyne, MGI’s chief executive officer, commented, “SeaGlide is a direct response to the operational and environmental challenges we see in modern maritime missions. By applying our F1 engineering experience in composites and control systems to the water, we’ve created a low-signature, zero-emission platform capable of performing persistent, autonomous roles that traditionally require crewed assets.”
The platform is available in four-meter, five-meter and six-meter variants and is currently undergoing sea trials in UK waters. It is designed for low-cost fleet deployment, networked operations, and rapid scaling for multi-vessel missions, operated from a single ruggedized ground station for mission planning, launch, and monitoring.
The introduction of SeaGlide comes as the defense sector undergoes a transition to multi-domain unmanned systems. The Royal Navy has launched early market engagement for a fleet of 20 USVs under Project Beehive. In a recent milestone trial, five USVs were remotely piloted from 500 miles away to escort warships during a three-day exercise.
Furthermore, allied nations such as Denmark are trialling robotic sail-boats for surface surveillance. Against this backdrop, SeaGlide offers a clear entry point for defense customers seeking scalable, low-risk autonomous maritime platforms with built-in endurance, speed, and multi-domain interoperability.
Designed, tested, and manufactured in the UK, SeaGlide is available for collaboration and licensing to international defense partners.
