Indian Navy to buy 80 fast interception craft from Lankan firm
01 Jul 2011
New Delhi: India has placed an order for 80 fast-interception craft (FICs), or high-speed patrol boats, from a Sri Lanka-based ship manufacturer to equip the new Sagar Prahari Bal (SPB) being raised by Navy. The SPB was created in the aftermath of the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai.
Defence ministry officials on Thursday said the Sri Lanka-based SOLAS Marine has been selected after a global tender and the around Rs300 crore ($67 million) contract would be inked soon.
"The delivery of the FICs should be completed in three years," said an official.
These 80 FICs are in addition to 15 similar boats being acquired from French shipyard Chantier Naval Couach, three of which have already been inducted at Mumbai. "All these 15 FICs will be with the Navy by end-2012," officials said.
The 15 FICs are being procured from the French company at a cost of Rs60 crore.
After formal orders, it will take up to 36 months for the Sri Lankan firm to deliver the boats, officials said.