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Belassi moves from engines to USVs
Building on its expertise in personal watercraft, Belassi is broadening its horizons at Euronaval and positioning itself as a global supplier of propulsion systems and modular USV platforms.
1. Belassi’s Marine Power Unit (MPU), a three-cylinder turbocharged engine delivering up to 400hp for a weight of just 118kg.
2. Integrated into the architecture of a USV, the MPU forms the core of the propulsion system developed by Belassi.
© Belassi
Historically recognised as an engine manufacturer, Belassi is now focused on the complete integration of its systems. “We are no longer limited to the vessel’s propulsion,” says the Austrian manufacturer’s CEO, Christopher Wilkinson. By managing the interaction between the engine, the water jet, the steering system and the electronics, the equipment manufacturer simplifies work performed by shipyards whilst accelerating development cycles.
At the heart of this strategy is the Marine Power Unit (MPU), a three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine delivering up to 400hp for a weight of 118kg – a power-to-weight ratio of 3.38: a particularly high figure for a marine engine. “Every kilogramme saved in the engine and propulsion system translates into additional capacity” for sensors, fuel, communications or payload, notes Wilkinson.
This performance is based on a comprehensive design: a closed-deck engine block, special pistons, intercooling, a patented turbocharged exhaust manifold, a turbocharger with overboost capability and dry-sump lubrication. This expertise stems directly from twenty years’ experience in personal watercraft (PWC), particularly in the areas of hull behaviour, water jets and the integration of high-performance components into compact spaces.
Four levels of integration
This vision is also reflected in Belassi’s product range. The manufacturer offers four levels: the engine alone, the complete powertrain, Belassi-Orbit (a hull solution with all equipment pre-installed) and Belassi USV-Core (a white-label marine platform that can be adapted to different products). The advantage for a defence manufacturer is that they do not have to redevelop the entire propulsion architecture for every new project. Engineering resources can be focused on the mission, sensors, software or payload. According to Belassi, this approach has the potential to reduce the development time for a prototype or a product ready for industrial production “from several years to a few months”.
This approach is now being implemented on a USV platform designed to carry a variety of payloads. Whether for surveillance, maritime security, reconnaissance, coastal surveillance or search and rescue (SAR), the vehicle is designed as a versatile platform rather than a fixed solution for a single mission. Belassi supplies the hull, propulsion system, steering, controls and communication interfaces. Integrators can then adapt the deck and the mission module. “Our aim is not to define all possible applications ourselves,” Wilkinson explains, but to provide a proven technical foundation on which partners can build their own solutions.
Paving the way for autonomy
The company is also working on the integration of remote operation and autonomous systems. Its Remote Interface Kit (RIK) provides access to the main engine and propulsion functions: automated start-up and shutdown, throttle and load control, and diagnostics and communication via two Controller Area Network (CAN) bus interfaces. Belassi already has a wireless control solution for remote operations and is conducting initial testing in the field of autonomy. However, the company advocates an open approach: “Belassi can supply the vessel, propulsion system and control layer, whilst the partner provides the navigation suite, situational perception, collision avoidance systems and operations management.”
For Belassi, Euronaval also represents an entry into a market the company had not previously considered. Defence applications impose specific requirements: reliability, remote diagnostics, secure communications, logistical flexibility and rapid deployment. Belassi’s existing technologies and expertise already meet these requirements. By combining its tried-and-tested components and its expertise within an integrated system, the company can offer a complete solution rather than individual components.
Wilkinson summarises this transition as follows: “To put it simply, we no longer just provide the ingredients for the project. We can supply something much more like a ready-made cake, whilst giving our partners the freedom to give it their own identity and adapt it to their mission.”
- Linda Verhaeghe
