SHAH ALAM: During DSA 2022, the Defence Minister announced that the government will fund the build of three Littoral Mission Ships (LMS) Batch II equipped with more sophisticated mission systems. This means that the LMS Batch II will be a more capable warship than the gunboats of which the KD Keris class ships really are all about.
I reported previously, the first initial RFI for the LMS Batch II was for ships up to 75 meters long, just slightly longer than the Keris class (69 meters). The ships will be armed with a 57mm gun, two surface to surface missiles, very short range air defense missiles and twin 30mm guns.
Last year, a number of shipyards received new specifications for the LMS Batch II which saw the length increased, now from 85 meter to 100 meters, a beam from 11 meters to 14 meters and a top speed of 28 knots.
The main armament is similar to previous smaller design – a 57 mm main gun, two SSMs, a VL SAM or VSHORAD (Fitted For But Not Equipped) and twin 30mm guns (could be a CIWS type). And at DSA 2022, Gading Marine promptly displayed a Sigma 9113 corvette design while Hyundai Heavy Industries displayed a photo of a 90 meter corvette as well.
Despite the announcement by the Defence Minister, it remained to be seen whether funding will be available as the government still need to pay for the elephant in the room. The LMS Batch II is supposed to be procured in two stages – three in RMK12 and another five in RMK13.
Can the first three LMS Batch II be procured for some RM1 billion then? It is possible as that will be the cost of the hulls and other systems only including the CMS. What about the others then – the engines, radars, missiles and guns then? Based on the RFP put forward, industry sources told Malaysian Defence that the items may well be the ones already purchased for the LCS.
It was because of this the rumours had started to gain traction that the only first two hulls of the LCS will be completed leaving the other equipment free to be used on the LMS Batch II. Though only four of the ships could be fitted with most of the items as the two of the LCS will still need the two 57mm guns and other equipment.
Will the government has RM6 billion to pay for the two LCS and three LMS Batch II then? Unlikely based on the amount of money allocated to RMN for the last two RMKs (around RM3 billion each). I guess we will have to wait and see then.
— Malaysian Defence
View Comments (62)
So, LMS batch II evolved from OPV to corvette now?
Yup, the talk is that BNS didn't have a design to offer when the ship was to be about 75 metres only as the Kedah class is 99 metres
Can I know if only two LCS will be completed, what happened to other four? cancelled? If I'm not mistaken BNS already assembled the 5th LCS's hull.
Off hand, I believed the 5TH LCS is about 24 per cent complete
just freaking decide already and do something.
But yeah right if the navy want another kedah sized ship why dont they continue building more kedahs instead..As for me the sweetspot for LMS are 70-80m with tonnage of 1000-1200 tonnes much like RSN's LMV that will virtually replace all kasturis and laksamanas..57mm main gun,a ciws (low end also good enough), 2-4 ssm and manpads-like sam like mistral tetral/simbad/sadral
Rock - ''LMS batch II evolved from OPV to corvette now?''
It was never a ''OPV''; thus it never '''evolved''. If one wants to go by designation based on size or displacement; they would fall in the ''corvette' category.
I smell a bailout. Or rather a bailout of a bailout. A bailoutception If you will.
If not mistaken the navy had originally requested a Herakles radar for LCS but BNS pick smart-s MK2 instead. So if all the manhen after Zahid is to be believe. They wanted this ship according to how the navy wanted it. The first 2 LCS is almost completed so it isn't possible to change much of it. but in theory if money is not an issues, then the remaining 4 hull could be upgun into a mini belharra for example. That's also means there plenty of parts from the LCS that shouldn't be in the LCS could be transferred to the LMS2 like the smart MK2 radar or the styler A35 for example.
FFBNW SAM on the LCS2 is understandable. I doubt the 2 first LCS if completed would be equipped with one either. It's logical to share similar missile to GAPU GBAD. Or rather hide the cost of RMN SAM into GAPU GBAD.
Assuming the LMS2 contract is launch by year end, doubt construction could start before 2025. basically the bulk of LMS cost would be paid for in the next RMK. While money in this RMK would be use for the 2 first LCS.
Technically, it is possible for the gov to pay 3 billion and get 2 LCS by 2025. The 1st 2 ship is almost completed, 1 of it had already been launch by DYMM PSB sultan, so it pending system, weapon installation & sea trial. As long as BNS take the 3 billion NOT as payment for work already completed & pay their debtor. but instead to utilize the 3 billion as working capital to compete all the ship and probably get more money in return if gov upgun the remaining 4 LCS.
Why upgun? Well it back to the herakles radar mention before. The public is tired of cost overun & downgrading of ships throughout the decades. So why not sell it as an upgun program instead to justify the higher cost? Herakles or sea fire has longer detection range & ability to shoot aster 30. One should be able to capture the public imagination with it and makes it more palatable to them.
No, the navy never asked for the Herakles. If they had chosen the Sigma 10513 as favoured by the RMN, it would have been the Smarts 3D as well
If these ships enter service with a conventional layout rather than being designed for modular payloads; it solves the problem with regards to replacing some FACs or the Laksamanas [as per longstanding original plans] but it leaves one problem unresolved; the Mahamirus. They are aging and the current wire sweep/ROV combo lack what it takes for the future mine threat.
5Zaft - ''& downgrading of ships throughout the decades.''
What ''downgrading'' over the ''decades''? If you referring to the Kedahs the were never fully fitted out but not ''dowgraded'' per see; neither were the LMS Batch 1s.
5Zaft - ''Herakles or sea fire has longer detection range & ability to shoot aster 30.''
Great so we can see over a certain distance but can't engage what we see at that range. Has it occurred to you that there's a reason the RMN never specified a need for a radar with longer range?
5Zaft - ''It’s logical to share similar missile to GAPU GBAD''
''Logical'' to do a lot of things but then GAPU's system should be funded the same period as the RMN's for the Batch 2s; unlikely. Also, commonality is great but what if the RMN goes for MICA but GAPU specifies a need for something else? Another issue is the RMN doesn't have many choices with regards to a point defence system which can or has been integrated to various things it has ordered but GAPU has more choices; can be MICA; NASAAS, etc.
Firdaus,
"But yeah right if the navy want another kedah sized ship why dont they continue building more kedahs instead"
More Kedah class cannot be built with the budget that we have. It is overdesigned in the way only the Germans know how to do. Even the sparsely equipped the Kedahs are costing 300 million dollars. While the much more bigger and better equipped Jose Rizal class Frigates costs 168 million dollars. So how much for a fully equipped Kedah? Just look at what Brazil has to pay for theirs, about 400 million dollars.
https://www.malaysiandefence.com/meko-a100-corvette/