Singapore-based shipbuilder Suncraft International has partnered with Malaysian investment company Radimax Group to market a 15m boat known as the Piranha ASD (Arrow System Design) fast patrol interceptor craft to the Southeast Asian region.
The Piranha ASD was first conceived as an assault craft but has since been modified to take on other roles such as maritime interdiction, border patrol, and search and rescue (SAR). Suncraft had previously supplied the Nigerian Navy (NN) with a 17m variant of the same vessel which the NN refers to as the Manta class, the company told IHS Jane's at the LIMA 2015 exhibition in Langkawi.
"The partnership between Suncraft and Radimax has been formed primarily to offer the Piranha ASD to the marine division of the Royal Malaysian Police (RMP)", said Commander (retired) Idris Othman, Radimax's senior manager for naval projects. "However based on the positive feedback we have received from the boat's demonstrations, we do not rule out marketing the product to the wider region as this is a suitable platform for Southeast Asian waters", he added.
The Piranha can reach a top speed in excess of 40 kt and has a range of 180 n miles at 35 kt. The vessel can accommodate four to six crew members.
In standard configuration, the Piranha patrol craft is armed with two pedestal-mounted 7.62mm machine guns at the aft pits, one each on port and starboard sides. Operators can also choose to equip the vessel with remote weapon stations developed in-house by Suncraft that can take weapons up to 12.7mm in calibre.
Besides the RMP, the vessel's capability has also been demonstrated to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency. The company said that it may approach the Philippine and the Vietnamese coast guard services for possible demonstrations.
(Jane's)
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