FDI is suggested as a potentially closer match to Malaysia's needs, but its programme was less mature when the Gowind choice was made. Construction of the first Malaysian ship is described as beginning in 2016, while the FDI contract is recalled tentatively as following in 2017. Selecting a design already available for construction allowed work to start sooner. A conceptual alternative cannot supply the ships a navy needs for current operations. The resulting Malaysian vessel is still assessed as capable at about 3,150 tons fully loaded. The first ship is described as undergoing sea trials, with commissioning still uncertain between December 2026 and January 2027.
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Malaysia's Gowind choice and the value of a design available to build
Malaysia's choice is compared with waiting for FDI, illustrating the tradeoff between a suitable future design and construction that can begin sooner.