KOTA KINABALU: Four new generation patrol vessels will be assigned for the Royal Malaysian Navy's Eastern Fleet Command operations.
Eastern Fleet commander Datuk Syed Zahiruddin Putra Syed Osman said two vessels - KD Selangor and KD Kelantan - will be placed at the Sepanggar naval base here this year, while another two will arrive next year.
"KD Selangor will arrive Saturday while KD Kelantan will arrive in March.
"KD Terengganu and KD Pahang will arrive in 2019, which would then bring the total of patrol ship assets under the Eastern Fleet to six," he told reporters after the annual march and 'Admiral on Deck' programme at the Sepanggar base.
The existing patrol vessels here are KD Kedah and KD Perak, while there are 18 Littoral Mission Ship (LMS) under the fleet.
"A deal for four new LMS vessels have been inked with China. The vessels are expected to be completed in two years' time," he said.
These vessels, he said, will improve the navy's level of preparedness in east Malaysia, where they will operate in strategic locations in Sabah and Sarawak waters.