SHAH ALAM: FIC and Maritime Helicopters Tenders. The Defence Ministry has issued on July 19, open tenders for the purchase of fast interceptor craft and maritime helicopters tenders for the RMN. As usual only potential bidders will have access to the requirements and other stuff as the ministry do not publish the bid documents publicly as per usual practice.
However, Malaysian Defence had reported before on the FIC requirements previously. Read Here.New Interceptor Boats Wanted. There are many shipyards capable of producing the FIC for the RMN though personally I would prefer it to be a enclosed one unlike the open top version currently in service. RMN is getting 18 of these boats, to be based mostly in Sabah.
One of the Penggalang class FIAC procured from BYO Marine Sdn Bhd.
As for the maritime helicopters, I have been tracking this one since late last year after I had heard talk of RMN wanting six utility helicopters instead of ASW ones. The RMN had apparently had given up hope of getting the ASW helicopters and had floated the idea for utility helicopters, to be based permenantly in ESSCOM AOR.
An Italian military HH-139 or AW139 equipped with specialized equipment. Wikipedia
At LIMA 19 earlier this year, I was told that Leonardo was offering the AW139 while Airbus the H145M, both to be armed and configured for the ISR and utility roles, just as RMN wanted. These helicopters, although capable, could not be upgraded in the future for ASW work though.
An armed Airbus H145M. Airbus
In an interview this morning, RMN Chief Adm. Reza Sany said they were looking for three utility helicopters, to be based at ESSCOM AOR for troop transport and utility roles. He said the budget allocated for the program was RM220 million.
RMN Skn 501 Super Lynx helicopter firing the Sea Skua during Eksesais KerisMas. The helicopter is also not equipped with ASW equipment.
Hopefully, the 2020 budget will allocate the funds for the maritime helicopters and FIC and their contracts duly signed by early next year with deliveries taking place in 2022.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (41)
Very interesting. It means one problem will be solved; the RMN will have a platform better suited for transporting PASKAL and various stuff which is hard to do with the Lynx and Fennec because of weight and space limitations.
The bad news is that the requirement for ASW helos will remain unfulfilled. The LCSs will have the ability to detect contacts at certain ranges but their ability to engage contacts will be limited to the range of their onboard torps. As an interim solution we can continue using the Mk300s with coordinates provided by the ship but it’s not an effective way of doing things.
Actually it is good for RMN to source brand new helos even for utility purpose because it's stupid to utilize Super lynx simply for mercy flights or personnel/vip transport
Questions that needs to be answered
1. Will there be a duplication of capability for the FIC and helicopter with other services? Does the FIC have the same capability as MMEA Penggalang class boats? Is the utility helicopter requirement can be performed by the TUDM EC725? If the needed capability is the same, isn't it better for MMEA or TUDM to get additional FIC and Helicopters instead?
2. For the FIC. What is the main tasks for this? Is the current size of the CB90 important so that it could be carried on board LPD or MRSS? Would the troop carrying and beaching capability like the CB90 important?
3. Is the helicopter to be able to be stored on board ships? Is folding blades a requirement? Or would it be mainly based ashore?
Given that they will be an RMN organic asset and that there will be no ASW configured helos anytime soon; we can safely assume that the new helos will be embarked on ships and not just from shore.
The LCSs hangar has been enlarged to accommodate a Cougar but just how marinised is a Cougar (the OEM no doubt will say it is) and can its blades be folded? Given that just a handful will be bought and that the Cougar is already operated by the RMAF logic would dictate the RMN also gets Cougars. Unfortunately logic doesn’t always enter the equation.
Given that the RMN needs the helo to perform service specific roles like transporting PASKAL and acting as the “eyes and ears” of the mother ship; it makes sense for them to be RMN owned. Having them owned and operated by the RMAF would lead to issues. The RMAF would also question why funding for these helos should come out of its budget when they’re mostly performing roles for the RMN.
On the FIC I would think that an important consideration is for it to have a more robust hull than the CB90. A problem in eastern Sabah waters is that floating driftwood can damage the hull, especially when the boat is moving at high speeds. Another problem is garbage getting stuck in the water jets.
Reply
Floating timber will damage any ship even big ones
After tender closed,get a MP to ask MINDEF in Dewan on companies and its offering, a repeat like that LCA.
BTW this is not a RFI, but basically a bona fide RFQ. But no official statement on the requirements to the public.
Where is the public accountability of kementah? Walk the talk please.
@ azlan
To get 3 cougars at the budget is quite a stretch, but the budget is more than enough for say customised AW139s. BTW the budget is not enough for even 1 ASW helicopter, as the phillipines wildcat cost about RM250 million each.
On the FIC, no high speed boats can withstand a collision with driftwoods. Same issue for garbage. Anyway i would prefer TLDM to replace the current CB90s with brand new CB90s.
The requirement is said to be 18 FICs with a budget of RM440 million, that is about USD4.8 million per boat. From the budget i dont think the FIC is to be used to actually replace the CB90, but an additional requirement. The Larsen & Toubro fast interceptor craft for example, costs about USD3.8 million each. It is a 30m long boat with a speed of 45 knots. Equipping this with aselsan 30mm RCWS and LMM missiles would make it a powerful combattant in the littoral arena.
http://jugalthepurohit.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/wpid-dsc_0057.jpg
@Marhalim
Your picture does raise an interesting point. With MMEA tasked to do offshore interception, what does TLDM have any need for interceptor speedboats as well? Then what is the job of Marine Police? There isn't that much money so why duplicate other Forces roles?
As for the marine choppers, something is better than nothing but that doesn't in any way solve their need of ASW. Like saying I am hungry and want to eat lunch but instead spend it on a boba drink. Sure its something but it still doesn't make me full. It doesn't solve their problems of lacking ASW (which I have highlighted before and perhaps should have spend that money on ASW kit for their existing choppers).
although a let down on not getting ASW heli for our LCS but its better than nothing...plus its in ESSCOM which in need for those.
hope we will know more soon about the tender
Mr marhalim,any news about MMEA OPV??
Nimitz,
Yes and I hope that if it happens the MP asks the right questions. I also hope that the MP doesn't adopts the position that we should have got something simply on the basis that it was cheaper, without taking into account the various factors. No point going simply on the basis that cheaper is better only to encounter others costs at a later period that results in it not being “cheaper” in the long run.
For the FICs obviously the main tasks will be to perform patrols and interceptions. Beaching will be less of a requirement compared to speed, range, endurance, sea keeping and the ability to carry the needed amount of people for intercepts and boarding. It goes without being said that the hull will be locally produced but not the engines and other things. Hopefully NVGs are also bought for use with the FICs and we coordinate their use with the Scaneagles and other assets. We rarely did/do beachings with our CB90s.
Understand tomorrow is the FIC tender briefing in KK. However, my sources tell me that the tender is categorised for 'Pembekal' and not 'Pembuat', which means that anyone with the Pembekal license can participate. This surely means an outright purchase from overseas boat builders, similar to the CB90 purchase.
If my info is correct, local shipyards can say sayonara to this tender la......