Malaysia stations more G2000 Mk II interceptors in Sandakan

A G2000 Mk II FIC that is now in service with the Royal Malaysian Navy. (Royal Malaysian Navy)

The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) has deployed four more of its newly received G2000 Mk II fast interceptor craft (FIC) at its Sandakan Naval Base in East Malaysia.

A statement released by the service's Eastern Command's Naval Area 2 on 16 July described the deployment as one that would improve the RMN's interdiction capabilities in a strategic part of Malaysia's maritime territories.

The four vessels were received by the RMN in March and are part of a contract for a total of 13 G2000 Mk II FICs that was signed in 2022 with Malaysian shipbuilder Gading Marine.

A first batch of four vessels was received by the RMN in January 2024, and all of these vessels were also originally deployed in Sandakan, but two have since been transferred by the service to an unspecified location.

The G2000 Mk II is an aluminium-hulled interceptor craft that displaces about 26 tonnes at its standard load, and it has an overall length of 18 m and an overall beam of 4.6 m.

“We are certain that the vessel's fast interdiction speeds will improve our response time when encountering threats at sea and this is especially important for Eastern Sabah, which continues to be exposed to the risk of intrusions and transnational crime,” the RMN said in its 16 July statement.

The G2000 Mk II is powered by two MAN V12 diesel engines driving two Hamilton waterjets and it can attain a top speed of 52 kt and a maximum range of more than 350 n miles when operating at 35 kt.