Overview
Bernico Vanguard designs and builds high-speed surface vessels and unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) targeted at naval and maritime security applications. The company sits in the Belgian defense tech and maritime engineering space, an area that has attracted renewed attention across Europe.
The company is a defense-focused arm of Bernico, the high-performance powerboat builder founded by Nico Bertels in 1991, and was registered as a separate Belgian entity in 2025.
Leadership & org chart
In the news
- Thank for the support! Proud to see the Alpha-8 and the work behind it recognised by Navy Leaders At BERNICO VANGUARD, we are grateful for the trust of MAHI and proud to contribute our high-performance naval engineering expertise to a platform designed around speed, interoperability and operational relevance. The Alpha-8 is a strong example of what can be achieved when Belgian engineering, autonomous technology and maritime expertise come together with a shared ambition. Our thanks to The Belgian Navy for the opportunity to
- Proud to see the MAHI Alpha 8 USV successfully demonstrated to The Belgian Navy in the North Sea, equipped with CURRENT Scientific Corporation’s EO/IR capability. For Bernico Vanguard, this programme represents exactly where we believe the future of naval engineering is heading: combining high-performance hull design, extreme manoeuvrability and proven maritime engineering with autonomous systems, advanced sensing and mission-specific technologies. Our role is to bring a High-Performance Naval Engineering mindset to unmanned
- Proud to see the Alpha 8 operating alongside The Belgian Navy as autonomous maritime capabilities continue to advance. Bernico Vanguard contributed its high-performance naval engineering expertise to the development of the Alpha 8 in close collaboration with MAHI. Seeing the platform tested in real-world North Sea conditions alongside Pollux represents an important milestone for Belgian maritime innovation. This collaboration demonstrates the value of combining advanced autonomy with high-performance naval architecture,
- Thank you, defensa.com: "Speed Is More Than a Number - It Is Tactical Advantage" Bernico Vanguard is honoured to be featured by Defensa.com, the most respected reference in Spain's defence sector 🇪🇸 👍 , in its recent article on how exceeding 100 knots changes the tactical advantage in coastal defence and security. The feature highlights Bernico Vanguard’s work around ultra-high-speed surface vessels and the operational relevance of the RIB 52R Hybrid, reported at 104.2 knots. At Bernico Vanguard, we believe speed is
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