Launch Ceremony for the LEVEND Indigenous Diesel Marine Engine for MARLIN USV and the MAVİ BATU Project
During the SAHA EXPO 2024 International Defense and Aerospace Exhibition, held on October 22-26, 2024, at the Istanbul Expo Center, BMC POWER hosted a launch ceremony for the 600-hp LEVEND Indigenous Diesel Marine Engine, developed for use in the MARLIN Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV). The first two engines were delivered to SEFİNE Shipyard. The event also featured three significant signing ceremonies.
On October 23, a ceremony at the BMC POWER booth marked two key milestones. First, a collaboration agreement was signed between BMC POWER and SEFİNE Shipyard for the development of an indigenous diesel marine engine for Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs). Second, BMC POWER officially unveiled the LEVEND MARLIN Marine Engine, designed specifically for the MARLIN USV project. Later that afternoon, the planned signing ceremony for the National Marine-Type Diesel Engine Development Project (Mavi BATU) between the Defense Industry Agency (SSB) and BMC POWER was canceled at the last minute due to a terrorist attack on Turkish Aerospace facilities.
The LEVEND Domestic Diesel Marine Engine, a marinized adaptation of the 600-horsepower AZRA engine originally developed for land platforms, was customized for the MARLIN USV and optimized for marine conditions. Two units were installed on the MARLIN, with the first sea trial successfully conducted shortly before the exhibition. During the transition from AZRA to LEVEND, significant modifications were made to the engine’s cooling system, exhaust, and turbocharger. While the land-based AZRA engine uses air to cool its engine water, the LEVEND marine engine relies on seawater for cooling.
Integration Process of the LEVEND Marine Engine into the MARLIN USV
During the 2022 SAHA EXPO, a collaboration agreement was signed with SEFİNE Shipyard under the Domestic Diesel Marine Engine Collaboration Project for Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs).
Later that year, detailed technical evaluations of the platform were conducted within an optimized timeline. This was followed by the initiation of conceptual design studies, which were subsequently formalized into a project plan.
In 2023, the assembly of the first prototype engine was completed, resulting in the successful production of the first LEVEND marine engine.
After the prototype’s production, procurement and manufacturing processes for test and verification prototypes were initiated.
By the end of 2023, production activities were finalized, and platform integration began at the start of 2024.
In 2024, two LEVEND engines designed for the MARLIN USV were delivered to SEFİNE Shipyard. Following delivery, mechanical and electronic integration activities were completed, and the first sea trial took place on October 17, 2024. Remote control system tests were scheduled for October 23, followed by sea trials for platform performance testing.
From October 20-25, MARLIN sailed to Ataköy Marina to participate in SAHA EXPO activities. Moving forward, MARLIN is expected to undergo an intensive schedule of testing and demonstrations.
Launch Ceremony of the LEVEND Domestic Diesel Marine Engine
The launch ceremony was attended by Mesude KILINÇ, Head of the Motor and Power Systems Department at the Defense Industry Agency (SSB); Bilkutay YILMAZ, Head of the Naval Platforms Department at SSB; Mustafa KAVAL, General Manager of BMC POWER; Yılca Barış SERT, Director of Program Management and Business Development at BMC POWER; Demir KOLOĞLU, Member of the Board and Chairman of the Executive Board at SEFİNE Shipyard; and Süleyman Akın TUZCUOĞLU, General Manager of SEFİNE Shipyard. The event attracted significant attention from the press.
During his speech, BMC POWER General Manager Mustafa KAVAL highlighted the event as the launch of the LEVEND marine engine, the first product developed in collaboration with SEFİNE Shipyard, while also providing insights into the project's background.
“As BMC POWER, we are a young company established to produce indigenous power systems. For a long time, our focus was primarily on land engine projects. However, over the past two years, we identified a similar need for marine engines and began our efforts in this area. The first seeds of this journey were sown here two years ago, at the 2022 SAHA EXPO, when we signed an agreement with SEFİNE Shipyard. Following that agreement, we initiated technical studies together with SEFİNE Shipyard. Our first step was to evaluate which of our existing engines would best suit the unmanned MARLIN platform. Ultimately, we decided that our 600-horsepower AZRA engine was the most suitable choice and moved forward with it. To solidify this collaboration, we signed another agreement at the 2023 IDEF Fair. The work we completed after IDEF brought us to where we are today. Just three days ago, we finished the MARLIN engine, and MARLIN successfully completed its first sea trial. It also made its maiden journey powered by these indigenous engines, traveling from SEFİNE Shipyard to Ataköy Marina.”
In his speech, Demir KOLOĞLU, Board Member and Chairman of the Executive Board at SEFİNE Shipyard, expressed confidence that the indigenous LEVEND engine would not only continue to be developed for unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) but also find applications in other naval platforms in the future. He emphasized that the MARLIN USV’s local content rate, previously at 60%, has now reached 90% thanks to the LEVEND engines. KOLOĞLU also pointed out that with the use of indigenous engines, MARLIN USVs can now be produced without being impacted by embargoes.
Mesude KILINÇ, Head of the Motor and Power Systems Department at the Defense Industry Agency (SSB), began her remarks by expressing her satisfaction at seeing the successful outcome of another indigenous and national engine development initiative led by SSB. She stated: “We have successfully tested yet another product in the field, integrated onto a platform. Following our National Diesel Marine Engine Roadmap, prepared by the Defense Industry Agency, we will continue our efforts to power the Blue Homeland with national capabilities.”
Bilkutay YILMAZ, Head of the Naval Platforms Department at SSB, shared his gratification and motivation in seeing the engine needs of naval platforms being met with domestic resources. He added: “Hopefully, we will equip our larger naval platforms with national solutions in the future, integrating them into the Blue Homeland.”
MAVİ BATU Project
As part of the National Marine Diesel Engine Development Project (Mavi BATU), to be launched with a contract signed between SSB and BMC POWER, a 1,407-horsepower marine diesel engine will be developed. This 12-cylinder V-type marine engine, a marinized version of the BATU diesel engine designed for the ALTAY AMT, will feature a displacement of 27.36 liters. The MAVİ BATU marine engine is intended for use in a variety of underwater and surface naval platforms
