Source : Indian Defence Analysis
After 12 Autonomous Weaponized Boats, Indian Navy issues RFI for 20 Remotely Manned Fast Interceptor crafts (RMFIC)
Indian Navy has released an RFI on 1st of May for procurement of 20 Remotely Manned Fast Interceptor crafts (RMFIC) from registered Indian Shipyards. The RMFIC is planned to be constructed from 2026 to 2030 in phased manner i.e., 4-5 ships per year.
It will be 17-ton class of vessel which will be manned by one operator and will have live saving capacity of 14 personnel. The vessel will have maximum speed of 45 knots and range of 200 nm at 15 knots with 25% of reserved fuel. The RMFIC should be operated from a range of 40 nm from coast. It will also carry out independent deployments for minimum one day at sea including surveillance around group of islands. RMFICs will operate in shallow waters and extreme tropical conditions.
RMFIC will feature one 12.7mm Stabilized Remote Controlled Gun (SRCG), 2 Acoustic Warning Device,2 High Power Search Lights & 1 fixed loud hailer. All these armaments will be controlled remotely.
Application of RMFIC
The RMFIC will be used for carrying out waterfront patrolling of coastal areas including harbour infrastructure such as the Command Headquarters, Naval Bases, Naval Dockyards, Break waters, Naval Jetties etc. Inherent to this capability would be to escort High Value Units while entering/leaving harbour. RMFICs will provide protection to the strategic assets located in the vicinity of Naval bases and operate with Force Protection vessels and other craft deployed.
In addition, RMFICs will carry out interception of high-speed craft and seaward anti-terrorist patrols for security of coastal installations, naval harbours and own coast.
Weaponized Autonomous Unmanned Boat for Indian Navy
Besides RMFIC, Indian Navy has already placed orders for 12 Autonomous Weaponised Boat Swarms which was inked on 5th Jan 2022 with Sagar Defence.
Sagar Defence has gained expertise to develop country’s first weaponsied Autonomous unmanned boat with capability for swarming.
DRDO & Sagar Defence collaboration
Last year in October, ahead of Defense Expo DRDO have tested 3 remote unmanned weaponized boats in Pune. These boats were developed in collaboration with the private start-up Sagar Defence Engineering. The vessel is capable of relying the video feed to the ground control station and can be very useful for surveillance, reconnaissance & patrolling. It can also be mounted with a machine gun for insurgence operations.
As per reports, the boat has an endurance of about four hours. Currently, the boat can sail at a maximum speed of 10 nautical miles/hour, but this can be further increased to 25 nautical miles. Some variants of these boats use an electric propulsion system with lithium batteries, while others have a petrol engine on board.
The mission of Sagar Defence is “Boat in a Box” to facilitate easier and safer Unmanned Marine Surface Vehicles (UMSV), vessel command control technology, Navigational instruments and telemetry systems which will revolutionize the future. Indian Navy issues RFI for 20 Remotely Manned Fast Interceptor crafts Indian Navy issues RFI for 20 Remotely Manned Fast Interceptor crafts Indian Navy issues RFI for 20 Remotely Manned Fast Interceptor crafts Indian Navy issues RFI for 20 Remotely Manned Fast Interceptor crafts Indian Navy issues RFI for 20 Remotely Manned Fast Interceptor crafts IgMp
