India has signed a deal worth over 300 crore rupees to procure 80 fast-interception craft, FIC, from a Sri Lankan firm. These FICs will equip Navy's Sagar Prahari Bal,SPB which is being raised after the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai. A Navy spokesperson said in New Delhi today,the boats are to be delivered in the next three years.FICs are small boats, with a crew of five to seven sailors and top speeds of 40 to 50 knots, are equipped with light machine guns.After 26/11, several steps have been taken to boost coordination in intelligence-sharing and operational matters,with fully-networked joint operation centres being set up in different locations.

Our correspondent reports,these 80 FICs will be in addition to the 15 similar boats being acquired from French shipyard Chantier Naval Couach,three of which have already been inducted at Mumbai.

With 1,000 well-armed personnel, the SPB will be tasked with the protection of naval and other assets, bases and harbours on both west and east coasts. It was one of the steps announced by the government after 26/11.