SHAH ALAM: Further update of the MMEA OPV. As reported previously, the first of class MMEA OPV, built by the THHE Destini JV, is expected to be launched late this year. Work on the three ships are progressing well, I am told, with 54 per cent work already completed.
The target I am told is for the first OPV to be launched late this year at the THHE Pulau Indah Fabrication Yard near Port Klang.
As reported previously, the MMEA OPV is derived from the Damen 1800 OPV design modified to suit MMEA requirements especially in increasing the number of personnel. The crew areas are designed like the Kedah-class fitted with attached bathroom facilities even for junior ratings.
The extra manpower requirements meant that the hangar capable of storing a medium-twin size helicopter of the original Damen 1800 OPV design will not exist on the MMEA OPV. The ships however retain the helipad for the same helicopter. The OPV is expected to be equipped with a VTOL UAV though a final decision has not been made. The type chosen is expected to be a stand alone system with little integration with the OPV system.
The MMEA OPV, designed with high mechanical redundancy, is fitted with four Caterpillar diesel engines, powering two screws; three generator sets and a single emergency generator set. The ship can cruise up to 16 knots with only generator set running.
— Malaysian Defence
View Comments (32)
Great news to start the week by!
BTW any indication of a batch 2 for both the NGPC and OPV?
Reply
None of that unfortunately. They cannot figure out what to do with APMM and marine police yet, so I guess we will have to wait
Salam Tuan..
Is there any problem if we just scraped our RMN NGPV programs and just buy thos 1800 Damen as our next NGPV? With bigger guns ,SAM or ASM should be better or even cheaper then Kedah?
Reply
In the first place, we must ask whether the RMN want the ship in the place. Anyhow for RMN use it may need to be further militarized, it could be done of course
good news...been waiting for this news about OPV since may...hope 2nd batch of OPV and NGPC will be place next year...
Our fishing resources are being plundered by foreign fishermen.
Our fishermen, oil and gas personnel are being harrased by foreign law enforcement agencies in our own EEZ.
Our people lost at sea and rescued by thai and vietnamese fishing boats in our own waters!
And still our leaders cannot decide? This is not rocket science! You are not elected to just do nothing.
Please enpower MMEA to do more.
For MMEA, please buckle up your SAR skills. On the recent SAR mission in terengganu it is a shame that your assets are so close to the survivors yet they did not see the survivors, thai fishing boat saw them and rescued them instead.
@ pracxis
My thoughts on OPV
https://www.malaysiandefence.com/candidates-for-rmn-utility-helos/#comment-391209
Basically let MMEA do all the OPV taskings. TLDM budget freed from not needing to buy Kedah batch 2 can be reallocated to bring forward Gowind batch 2 and Scorpene batch 2 builds.
Tuan Marhalim,
Can RMN or even MMEA considers buying a ship from Russia? Vietnam did it by buying naval ships by both from Nato and Russian shipyard and im sure its not a big problem in case of system integrations?
Reply
Yes they can buy them but its unlikely.
Off topic
TLDM ships KD Perak and KD Pari is now in lapu-lapu city, cebu for malphi-laut 22/19 exercise.
@Pracxis
Damen 1800 cannot be armed with SAM nor ASM. As for Russia, settle MH17 issue first!
Reply
It can be, actually but not the current MMEA variant
Off topic
One of the latest and largest sail training ship in the world, the KRI Bima Suci will be visiting malaysia in its asia pacific and australian tour.
In malaysia, it will pick up 5 malaysian trainees to join the ship.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/id/2/2d/Bima_Suci.jpg
Soft power diplomacy at its best. It is also a sign of a country that appreciates its maritime history.
Recently china and vietnam has also bought their own large sail training ships.
http://pbs.twimg.com/media/DxL_IOTWsAAwvx3.jpg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7aDONMgxJcg/Vd5UQF0rGiI/AAAAAAAAmNk/BH2r6DXinS0/s1600/anh-tau-huan-luyen-le-quy-don-cua-viet-nam-dong-buom-ra-khoi%2B%25281%2529.jpg
Australia is building one to replace its sail training ship Young Endeavour, which is a sister ship to KLD Tunas Samudra.
US Coast Guard uses one as its main training ship, USCGC Eagle
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/43/Coast_Guard_Stamp_–_Division-_East_–_Seed-_16_%2825765473221%29.jpg
@ joe
The idea of arming OPVs with SAM of ASM is something like asking police cars to be armed with 30mm gun and anti tank missiles.
It is not needed for its peacetime day to day task of patrolling the EEZ.
In serious conflict situations, an OPV, even armed with SAM and ASM has very small chance of surviving. OPVs will sit out of a serious conflict to save them from being destroyed. Want well armed ships? Get proper frigates like gowinds instead.
There will be a need for both OPVs and Frigates. But there should be a clear difference in capabilities and use of both, and we need to make sure not to over spec the OPV to do something it cannot.
In malaysia's situation, a fleet of around 20 OPVs (with MMEA) and 12 Frigates (with TLDM) will give our seas and EEZ at sea deployment of around 10 OPVs and Frigates at all times. We need to consolidate both MMEA Pelan Perancangan Strategik Maritim Malaysia 2040 (PPSMM 2040) and TLDM 15 to 5 plan as a comprehensive malaysian maritime defence strategy.
Opting for high spec OPVs like Meko 100, even with planned cost reduction, the target cost is USD150 million each (compared to the original cost of USD300 million each). To fulfil the original 15 to 5 plan for 12 more Meko 100, that would cost USD1.8 billion. The same number of Damen OPV1800 would cost about 1/3 of that at USD636 million. Getting 12 L&T Vikram class instead just costs USD384 million! Both ships can perform the same tasks as the Meko 100 could. Money saved could be used to buy more Submarines and Frigates instead.
Pracxis,
Vietnam has long operated Soviet/Russian gear. Why on earth would we buy Russian naval gear when we don’t currently operate any and doing so would only add to the already large logistical footprint we have?
As it is, the 5/15 which was intended to reduce the logistical footprint won’t be the “5/15” any longer.
Incorrect, buying Russian would lead to major integration issues ; no added value to the end user or the taxpayer given the small quantities we buy (like the MKMs for which the various suppliers of parts has to work with the aircraft’s OEM to enable integration and certification - took time and money for a mere 18 air frames). Even integrating Western stuff to other Western stuff can be a problem; let alone Russian to Western stuff.