Produced by BMC Power, 97 TUNA engines were delivered to the armored vehicle manufacturer BMC Defense throughout the year. The TUNA engines were installed in the VURAN 4x4 vehicles. Fifty of these domestically powered VURAN vehicles will be put into service by the Land Forces Command as acceptance activities begin. Following this delivery, 40 vehicles will be delivered to the Gendarmerie General Command. Seven of the engines will also be provided to users as spares.
While the delivery process is ongoing, BMC Power is also preparing TUNA engines for use in KIRPI vehicles. The goal is to produce 10 domestically powered KIRPI vehicles in the first quarter of 2024.
Discussions are also underway between SSB and BMC Power for the use of TUNA in different armored vehicle projects. BMC Power continues its efforts to have TUNA used by various armored vehicle manufacturers in the Turkish defense industry.
The first marineized engine by BMC Power, the 600 horsepower LEVEND (derived from the land version AZRA engine), will be delivered by the end of the year. The engine will be used in the Marlin armed unmanned naval vehicle developed in collaboration with ASELSAN and Sefine Shipyard.
Under the Native Military Type Generator Development Project contract between BMC Power and İŞBİR Elektrik Sanayii AŞ, deliveries of one AZRA Marine (LEVEND) and one TUNA engine for use in the project will take place soon.
The development of Türkiye's first indigenous military land vehicle engine, TUNA, began in November 2018. TUNA, prepared to operate in different climatic and geographical conditions in Türkiye, underwent road tests in Erzurum and Antalya.
