SHAH ALAM: LMS and 15 to 5 updates. The RMN 15 to 5 transformation plan is on track and the navy will have a new fleet – if it goes to plan – in 30 years time. The first two ships under the plan are the LCS – two already being built – and the LMS which is to start construction soon.
Three LCS (including the two already built) and three LMS will be build under the current RMK11 plan which ends in 2020. For RMK12 – 2021 to 2025, the navy plans to build three more LCS, eight LMS and one each of the PV (Kedah class) and the MRSS (Damen design?).
Between 2026 to 2030 under the RMK13, it will be five PV, seven LMS and two more MRSS. In RMK 14 (2031=2035) funding will be sought for 5 PV and one submarine; in RMK15 (2036-2040) one each of the PV and submarine and four LCS and RMK16 (2041-45) two LCS as the replacement for a replacement for the Kedah class.
The RMN building plans were made public during the sent-off ceremony for 12 officers and men of the LMS project team at KD Seri Gombak, yesterday.
Navy chief Admiral Ahmad Kamarulzaman Ahmad Badaruddin says the project team will be stationed in Wuhan, China, to monitor the construction of the two LMS at China Shipbuilding and Offshore International Co. Ltd, at the Wuchang shipyard. Nine personnel from Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd will also be assigned to the shipyard for the build.
Conglomerate Boustead Holdings Bhd has bagged a RM1.17bil contract from the Defence Ministry for the supply of four units of littoral mission ships (LMS).
In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, the company said subsidiary Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd (BNS) received the letter of acceptance (LOA) dated March 17 from the ministry.
“The contracted job, which is a collaboration between the Malaysian government and Chinese government, was awarded to BNS under direct negotiation, for collaboration with a partner shipyard in China at a price of RM1.17bil (including goods and services tax), to be implemented over four years effective from the date of signing of the LOA by BNS,” it said.
Boustead added that the LMS would be designed by the partner shipyard and the first two vessels would be built and delivered in China in 2019 and 2020, while the remaining two vessels would be built and delivered in Malaysia in 2021.
“The contract will have a positive effect on the earnings of Boustead for the financial year ending Dec 31, 2017, and will contribute positively to its future earnings,” Boustead said.
The team for this project had a huge responsibility and task to ensure technology transfer between China and Malaysia, which is the first of its kind involving defence, Kamarulzaman said.
He, however, did not state when the keel will be laid and expected commissioning dates. “We will update you with the exact dates from time to time,” he says when pressed further for the construction schedule of the LMS.
Kamarulzaman said the LMS could carry up to three standard ISO containers for mission modules, in the future, from mine warfare, hydrography to ISR duties. However, further details on the mission modules equipment for LMS was not available as they have not been finalised or more importantly funded, yet.
Various containerised mission modules are currently available from 120mm Nemo mortar to SSM which can be easily move from ship to ship, though RMN have yet to indicate its preference for such weapon system.
But from the CGI displayed, as reported previously, the first four LMS will be fitted with a China made 30mm RWS forward and two 12.7mm guns amidships.
Note the general specifications of the LMS above which is a variant of the Durjoy LPC of the Bangladesh Navy.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (44)
Marhalim,
Does LMS vessel Only Equiped with 30mm Gun under FBNW (Fitted But Not With) and Not using Missile and Torpedos. Why It is Inportant Without Missile and Torpedos not only Because Of money or what ?
Reply
Money and China stuff.
That is a very comprehensive and detailed plan for up to 30 years from now from the navy leaders.
Note that the new PV (will it be the kedah class for sure?) will begin right after the LCS batch 1 is completed. There would be 12 new PV. After the 12 new pv is completed 20 years from now there would be the building of LCS batch 2 which interestingly to replace the original kedah class ships which by that time would be around 30years old.
Building plans is one thing. What about the retirement plans? Especially kasturi and lekiu classes.
Quite recently indon had launched new patrol vessels quite similar to lms. in fact indon had launched quite a number of naval vessels for the last couple of years
sometimes i wonder why we cannot even design a single patrol boat wven tho we are supposedly better than indon
Actually at the end of 15 to 5 program there would only be 12 sgpv, as the original 6 is to be replaced by the additional 6 LCS batch 2.
As for the 12 new sgpv, i wonder what target price for this new batch. If it is more than usd150mil with full armament, it is not prudent to stay with the meko 100 design. Going for something like the 056 class / P18 class corvette would be much better bang for the buck. Also interesting to see what OPV the australian navy is going to procure, and why BHIC isn't offering the kedah class to the australian navy opv contract.
OMG 15 more years atleast for another submarine.
Is that the best design the Chinese can offer us?I still say the look of the design is very very familiar with what the French and German shipyards were producing when the FACs was in fancy back in the 1970s.Why don't they have a look at the ST Marines designs and see what I meant.Maybe the Boustead naval engineers can contribute something to redesign the whole outlook of the ship.Maybe some people might not care about the look and care more about the contents but i beg to differ.
RMK16 (2041-45) two LCS as the replacement for a replacement for the Kedah class.
Typo????
a very well plan but it still depend on our Country Financial. Hope RMAF will come out their own roadmap...
Reply
By that time the Kedah class will be some 30 years old already
Although it can be financial constraints. But can the vessels been built in a faster way? It feels like once the plan of 15 to 5 is fully executed, the navy might need to start replacing the ships already.
The new LMS cgi looks better than the one before! nice