Can cover 1600 km for just Rs 600; electric seagliders to transform travel

CHENNAI: Under the supervision of IIT Madras, the startup company Waterfly Technologies is engaged in the manufacturing of electric seagliders. Known as 'Wing-in-Ground Craft' (WIG), this system aims to serve as an alternative to traditional air and sea travel. Seagliders are designed for long missions spanning thousands of miles and lasting several months, functioning as deep-sea diving autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs).

The company plans to use this technology primarily in coastal areas. Waterfly Technologies showcased its design at Aero India in Bengaluru. The prototype is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.

Taking off from the water, the seaglider will fly at a height of four meters, with the capability to reach up to 150 meters. Its flat design enhances flight efficiency. The seaglider’s speed is 500 km/h. It combines the speed and comfort of an airplane with the cost-efficiency of a ship. According to Harish Rajesh, co-founder and CEO of Waterfly Technologies, a 1600 km journey from Kolkata to Chennai would cost just Rs 600 per person in a WIG craft — cheaper than a three-tier AC train ticket.

By April this year, a 100 kg prototype is expected to be built. The full-scale seaglider, with 20 seats and a four-ton payload capacity, is planned to become operational next year. Initially, the battery-powered seaglider will have a range of 500 km, while its hydro-electric variant will offer a range of 2000 km. These e-flying boats promote carbon-free travel and are claimed to be safer than aeroplanes since they can also land on water during emergencies.

Waterfly Technologies plans to sell these aircraft to airline companies. In the future, the company aims to operate routes such as Chennai-Singapore and Dubai-Los Angeles. The company is working towards obtaining certification from the Indian Register of Shipping under the International Maritime Organization by 2026. They are also seeking defence funding to develop full-fledged prototypes and applications in cargo and surveillance sectors. Interestingly, similar seaglider models were built by the Soviet Union in the 1960s for military purposes.