IDEF 2023: BMC to power Sefine Shipyard's USV

Sefine Shipyard's Marlin USV will be equipped with BMC Power's Azra Marine diesel engine, pictured here on display at IDEF 2023. (Janes/Prathamesh Karle)

Turkey-based BMC Power, a subsidiary of BMC Automotive and Trade Industry, will equip Sefine Shipyard's Marlin unmanned surface vessel (USV) with its Azra Marine diesel engine under an agreement signed between the two companies and Seft Engineering at the 16th International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) held from 25 to 28 July in Istanbul.

Seft Engineering is responsible for integrating the diesel engine on the USV. The USV will be equipped with two Azra Marine diesel engines.

Azra Marine is BMC Power's first entrant into the marine diesel engine market. It is a naval version of the company's Azra six-cylinder inline diesel engine developed for military land vehicles.

Azra Marine is a six-cylinder inline four-stroke diesel engine with an overall length of around 2 m, a width of 1.14 m, and a height of 1.23 m. The engine has a rated speed of 1,800 rpm and a rated power of 430–447 kW (577–600 HP).

The diesel engine is a completely localised development with no export restrictions. The company is targeting ship trials by the end of 2023.