LIMA 2023 – GadingMarine shows its new G2000 Mk II and looks forward to bigger naval units
When accessing the Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre, the venue that hosts LIMA 2023, it is nearly impossible not to see an 18 metres long boat on the right side of the entrance. It is one of the first two G2000 Mk II fast interceptor craft built by GadingMarine for the Royal Malaysian Navy
“We started production in October 2022, and the first two boats are exhibited at LIMA, one outside the main pavilion and one at the harbour,” IR.HJ Jamalolail Moho y Atim, the company Managing Director, tells EDR On-Line. Thirteen such ships were ordered, the delivery of the first batch of four being scheduled for August 2023. “We plan to delve the second batch, also of four ships, in March 2024, the final five boats to be delivered by September that same year,” he added.
Built in aluminium, the G2000 Mk II is 18 metres long, has a beam of 4.6 metres, and a draught of 0.99 metres. Powered by two MAN V12 providing 1,650 hp each, coupled to two Hamilton HTX42 water jets, the boat can reach a maximum speed of over 52 knots at 26 tonnes displacement. At 35 knots cruise speed its range is over 300 NM.
The G2000 Mk II carries a crew of five, but has seats for eight more personnel; the bow hosts a ladder allowing easy disembark on islands, the limited draught allowing getting close to the coast when the sea bottom is sandy. Eight boats will be armed with an RCWS provided by Escribano of Spain, the Sentinel 2.0, armed with a 12.7 mm machine gun, while at the rear two GPMG 7.62 mm machine guns are installed on pintle mounts. The remotely controlled station of Spanish origin will be replaced with a STAMP-L RCWS by Aselsan of Turkey on the remaining five boats.
The Royal Malaysian Navy is already equipped with six G2000 Mk I boats. Two G2000 fast assault craft are in service with the Royal Malaysian Police; slightly longer, 18,9 metres, they are fitted with two MAN V12 diesels providing 1,550 hp, the same of the Mk I, and reach 48 knots at 27 tonnes displacement, with a 350 NM range at 35 knots. It is to note that the hulls of the G2000 models come from a New Zealand design.
Still on the computer screens, the G3000 awaits a launch customer to become reality. According to the shipyard the Navy expressed some interest while the Police is looking at a replacement for its PZ-class naval units. The G3000 will be 34.5 metres long, with a 7.0metres beam and a 1.3 metres draught. Built in aluminium, it will be powered by three MTU 16V2000 M94 diesel engines that will drive three MJP 650 CSU water jets, allowing a sprint speed of 40 knots. At 12 knots the G3000 will have a range of 1,000 NM, and will be armed with gun mount armed with a Northrop Grumman Mk44 20×173 mm cannon, and will carry a crew of 20.
GadingMarine is also considering moving into the unmanned surface vehicles world, and is looking for a partner.
Photos by P. Valpolini
