SHAH ALAM: AS I was unable to go to Lumut today for the keel laying ceremony for the first LCS, posted below is the story by Bernama. Nothing surprising and nothing more revealing than my earlier story. I guess we have wait for another day for the answers.
RMN To Receive First Littoral Combat Ships In 2019 – Hishammuddin
LUMUT, March 8 (Bernama) — The efficiency of the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) will be further increased when it received the first batch of its Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) in 2019, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Tun Hussein said.
He said with the presence of the locally made combat ships, which is also the biggest in Malaysia, the RMN would increase the combat capability of its combatant ships to 10 from four previously.
“With the twofold increase in its capability, of course more operations can be carried out quickly and more effectively, and hence improve the efficiency of our team.
“The LCS have the capability to be fully operational for offshore and deep sea patrol for a period of 21 days without having to resupply,” he said at the LCS1 keel Laying ceremony at the RMN base here today.
LCS are built, integrated and tested at the Boustead Naval Shipyard (BNS) here.
Hishammuddin said the full construction of the combat ships at the BNS premises had also restored public confidence in the skills and capabilities of local companies.
He said the LCS would be stationed at several vital areas, including in the Exclusive Economic Zone and the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) areas.
The defence minister also gave assurance that the government would not compromise in the aspects of national security and defence despite the global economic uncertainty.
In another development, Hishammuddin said two apartment blocks for military personnel and their families at the RMN base here would be upgraded involving an allocation of RM22.5 million.
“The upgrading work is expected to begin in May and completed by year’s end,” he said, adding that the government would also build 300 houses at Bandar Baru Segari here, which will only be sold to members of Armed Forces Veterans Association at a price of RM100,000 each.
— BERNAMA
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (29)
Malaysia should start investing in mid range air defense, aerial reconnaissance like the p 3 and also start replacing the nuri helicopters
Tahniah to the Boustead shipyard for the keel kaying ceremony for the first LCS. We wish you the best guys! It's going to be tough to meet the delivery date as the modern project management system and managers are trained to be optimistic rather than realistic. So try your best. God speed.
The Star 9/3/16
"The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) is set to consolidate all its naval units from 15 classes to five in an effort to strengthen the country’s maritime security.
Navy chief Datuk Seri Ahmad Kamarulzaman Ahmad Badaruddin said this is part of the RMN’s transformation programme to strengthen its armada and also to be cost effective.
The five classes are New Generation Patrol Vessels (NGPV), Littoral Combat Ships (LCS), submarines, Littoral Mission Ships (LMS) and Multi Support Ships"
----nice move.....
Marhalim,
We can only 'assume' that this new frigate is 'better' than our neighbour's Formidable class frigate.
Reply
Better is a a subjective word. Anyhow I prefer to assume that the LCS will be commissioned on time and under budget and fulfilled all the RMN requirements instead of trying to make comparisons.
With the consolidation plan does it mean tldm will sell off/retire the lekiu and kasturi class ships when all of the gowinds are in service?
As for the littoral mission ships. Would like to know more about the requirements. Would it be something like a multi purpose fast attack corvette?
As for the multi support ships, I would prefer them to be a few separate classes; with lpd, mpcss, replenishment/auxiliary patrol (similar concept to bm5).
Reply
I have not gotten the definitive meaning but I think all of the frigates including Lekiu/Kasturi class will be classified as LCS as well so no we are not selling them. As for the littoral mission ships I think it will include all PCs, corvettes, FACs and the minesweepers.
it will be another 8 years in total before we get the full compliment of the SGPV/LCS. In the mean time would have to rely on the 2 Lekius, 2 kasturis, 2 Subs and 6 OPV for RMN operational requirement. May be RMN should relook at the possibility of arming the OPVs with the proposed 2 SSMs and SEA RAM (if there is allocation for it off course) while waiting for the armed LCSs.
Kamal,
In fact we could have build more Kedah class ( say 20 ) and arm them as should be. The position behind the 76 looks soooo empty. Plus a 35 millenium on the hanger would be nice too.
But as it is now that would not be the case.
Reply
in an interview with Janes last year, RMN chief said he would like to have another 12 improved Kedah class in the future. He, however, did not say that whether or not the project has been funded. It is likely that it is a wish list.
Another batch of meko100 is doable. Combining another batch for tldm with exports to the middle east would give the volume needed.
Without the additional cost of tot, and substitution of some of the expensive western equipment with MOTS/COTS equipment from korea, china or turkey. I think a unit cost of below usd150millon per ship is achievable.
Possible fitout
76mm Hyundai-wia gun
Korean/turkey CMS and radar
Chinese C-803 ASM
Chinese FL-3000 Sam
Those littoral mission ships, we could base them on the hull design of the laksamana (could always reverse engineer them) with a more modern superstructure.
If you up arm the Kedah class, you will be neither here nor there.
Too well armed for policing duties and still too under equipped for battle.
Upgraded Kedah will be a good addition. It works for both low intensity and high intensity conflict.
Upgraded radar, both sonar and towed sonar, SAM, SSM, ESM, CIWS and torpedos.
The ship has better range than sgpv. From wiki though.
Example:
- oto melara 76mm gun
- oerlikon millennium 35mm CIWS
- smart-s mk 2 radar
- vigile ESM
- SeaRAM CIWS missile
- 4 kda nsm
- 2x 3 tubes torpedos
- kingklips sonar
- captas 1 towed sonar
Almost reaching the same capabilities of new sgpv minus the anti-aircraft missile if sgpv uses 20+ km ranged missile.
Just my sekupang.