Malaysia unveils first new locally-made Fast Interceptor Craft

 

Gading Marine's FAC PC31 design, which is the basis for their new FIC for the RMN. Photo c/o Malaysian Flying Herald.

The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) has unveiled its first new Fast Interceptor Craft (FIC), built locally by Gading Marine based in Selangor, during a simple ceremony led by the RMN's Deputy Chief on 25 January 2021.

The new boat is still waiting for its remote controlled weapon station (RCWS) with 12.7mm heavy machine gun, and two manually-operated 7.62mm general purpose machine guns, which will be installed once they become available.

The RMN has ordered six (6) new Fast Interceptor Crafts on October 2020, with Gading Marine winning a public tender issued by the Malaysian Ministry of Defence (MOD) in mid 2020. 

The new FICs are expected to be assigned to assist in the ongoing Ops Benteng enforcement against illegal immigrants around the country, and are also expected to gradually replace the RMN's fleet of Swedish-made CB-90 fast assault boats.

The new FIC, which are based on the G2000 FIC 18M design from Gading Marine, will be slightly larger than the CB-90 at 18 meters long and 4.6 meters wide, and will be equipped with an electro-optical tracking system (EOTS), and are powered by two MAN 1550 diesel engines propelling two Hamilton Jet HM 461 water jets.

The RMN plans to operate a total of 18 new FICs, for deployment around the country.




[1] Malaysia Flying Herald
[2] Malaysia Military Times