SHAH ALAM: Keris launched. The first of class LMS, pre commissioning unit, Keris – pennant number 111 – was launched at the Wuhan shipyard in China this morning. According to a release by RMN, the Keris designation for the LMS was chosen in honour of its mostly retired Keris-class ships. Two of the Vosper made ships, KD Sri Perlis and KD Sri Johor, remained the oldest vessels in RMN service.
The launch of the first of class, came some six months after the keel laying of the vessel, a record for the RMN. Following the launch, the ship will undergo harbour and sea trials before handing over to the RMN, end of the year. It is likely that the ship will be commissioned into service, early next year.
First of class LMS, Keris, prior to its launch. RMN
Based on the above, we can assumed that the second LMS will also be launched, later this year, with the third and fourth – now to be built also in Wuhan – likely to be ready for service by late 2020.
Normah at the launch ceremony. RMN
The first of class was launched by Normah Alwi, the wife of the Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu. As reported last month, all four of the LMS will now be built in China.
The price of the original contract for the LMS was RM1.17 billion, it has now dropped to RM1.048 billion, a cut of some RM122 million. All four ships will also now be built in China instead of two in China and another two in Malaysia as off the original plan
According to the same RMN release, the four Keris-class ships will be stationed at the Eastern Fleet command at the Kota Kinabalu naval base. Although the release stated that the LMS project was part of the RMN 15 to 5 plan, it did not say whether the 14 more ships planned would continue.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (27)
This is a great day for TLDM, getting a brand new ship on time and under budget. Yes the original budget is high for a patrol ship in the 1st place. Will the ship follow the same fate as its older namesake and be passed on to MMEA? Only time will tell.
Legasi Keris berterusan.
Syabas TLDM.
Congrats RMN for the newly acquired ship. The chinese really can build a good warship. The structure looks solid. May i know if the containers module can carry a standalone weaponry?
Good looking ship..nice shape she have..may more will be order.
just thinking out loud
Is there any advantage to transfer the 57mm Bofors from FACs to the LMS, and put two 30mm RCWS on the machine gun pintle location? Is it something that involves minor modifications to the structure, or a major one? Was it even considered during the LMS design process? I believe it can be done as the ship's base design, the bangladeshi BNS Durjoy is armed with chinese/russian 57mm gun at the front.
Im for this as IMO this would be a better armament in fighting and destroying other small ships fighting insurgents or non-state actors.
Api 69 or others care to comment?
http://himg2.huanqiu.com/attachment2010/2015/0325/09/42/20150325094241862.jpg
Reply
Wait for my post on the FAC
" The chinese really can build a good warship. The structure looks solid. "
Wow, expert on deck!
@ AM
Those are just novice civilian comments, like a few other comments here. Applaud their interest in defence matters, they will learn by their experience here.
@AM
of course, he's captain jack sparrow.
Still no idea what systems the MCM modules are using....
First off, don't mind a layman viewpoint again.
Almost a year into the new administration, many are eager for the impossible. Defence alone, I personally noticed, the choice of minister were based on equal power sharing. Poor fella was put on a crash course to "unimaginable" turn around, if I may say. Seriously, almost 10 years of almost neglect and we are hoping for miracles in less then a year.
Like it or not, these China made ship, not logical to most here, will stuck with it for decades. The navy need to adapt and make the best out of it for simple acceptance by the previous navy heads. RMN need to move on. Along with it, we as outsiders can come out with suggestions/arguments but transferring assets from what already said, an over stretch navy to other agencies will not solve RMN problems. The new admiral recognized and face this shortage by adapting to what's available on hand and maybe will make do with this Chinese ship for the time being.
I don't have a solution to hardship faced by our forces but I do hope we have men from the force who are focus on the nation future and FIRM in selling their vision to Tun.
Just what I see and hope 8)
Ed