SHAH ALAM: Keris on sea trial. RMN’s first of class LMS, PCU Keris, is currently undergoing sea trials, according to a China based naval observer @Loongnaval. posted a picture of Keris undergoing sea trial though it was not dated nor the location of the sea trials.
From the high resolution picture, taken from China Neval Magazine, we can surmised only the 30mm forward gun has been installed. The ship appears to be fitted with a surface search radar and two navigation radars. It appears also that there is no electro-optical device fitted on top of the bridge though this might not be fitted yet.
PCU LMS Keris. @Loongnaval
As reported previously it is likely that the equipment are sourced China manufacturers, though it is unclear their actual type and designations.
A close up of the bridge with the EOD director and nav radar.
At the stern, the RHIB launchers look installed though no vessel appeared fitted. A small satelitte receiver dome is also fitted behind the bridge. The ship looked very much like the CGI provided by previously.
The latest CGI of the LMS. Note the main gun and containers on the foredeck.
As the RMN had already said the Keris and Sundang are expected to be delivered before the end of 2019, it is likely both ships are already undergoing sea trials.
First of class LMS, Keris, prior to its launch. RMN
Keris as you are aware was launched last April while Sundang just this July. Both are expected to be based at the Kota Kinabalu naval base.
Sundang after her launch. RMN
The Wuchang shipyard is also building two more LMS after the government ordered a review of the original contract. Two of the LMS were supposed to be build by Boustead Naval Shipyard.
The model of the LMS.
Anyhow it appears that the keel laying of the fifth LMS will not take place anytime this year. In its Bursa announcement on Jun. 30, 2019, Boustead Heavy Industries Corportation stated that the keel laying for the fifth LCS will be conducted in the fourth quarter of the year (October to December period). However, checks with industry sources revealed that no date has been fixed for the ceremony this year. The keel of the fourth LCS was conducted in October, last year.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (33)
Nice looking and beatiful shipto me..welcome to Malaysia
It’s possible the future LMSs, although fitted out differently, will be categorised as the same class (especially if the core design doesn’t differ too much. If that doesn’t happen the 15/5 will become the 15/6. The key question is of course how the follow in LMSs will be fitted out: a question nobody can currently answer.
As I pointed our previously the 15/5 looks sound on paper (many things do) but internal opinion on whether it will actually provide the service with the needed capability was very divided and it’s subject to politics, funding and threat perceptions - all factors beyond the RMN's control.
The RMN is so desperate for new hulls in the water to perform peacetime duties that having 4 LMS not fully fitted is something it’s willing to live with for the moment. They will offer superior sea keeping over the FACS. have better sensors (the original
radars on the FACs have long
been inoperable) and will be much less maintenance intensive.
At least something move on...hope more LMS to be build in the future and 15 to 5 program will carry on. If $ a very big issue, we just get more LMS and reduce LCS and NGPV.
Doesn't seem like the builder's trial includes testing the modular system, though we still have no idea what modular system are they installed with.
Good news. Thank you admin.
Hopefully there will be follow-up ships planned. Better get the numbers first, then the weapons and electronics upgrades.
From the hi res pictures, all of the ships equipment has been installed.
You can see a bit of the RHIB bow inside the rear boat slipway.
As for the EO turret, it is installed, but i cannot ID the type as the resolution of the picture is not clear enough.
Michael- “At least something move on”
These 4 ships are badly needed to perform various peacetime duties performed (duties that should but can’t be fully conducted by the MMEA) by the aged FACs and Laksamanas but fitted as they are; add little combat value to the RMN.
It’s safe to assume that they might not share any commonality with follow on LMSs and despite all the talk about modular payloads; we don’t even know if they’ll be ordered.
Michael - “ 15 to 5 program will carry on”
Obviously there will be some sort of long term plan but whether the “5/15” as we know it will actually be implemented or became the “7/15” or “8/15” remains doubtful”.
Had NGVtech didn't dun goofed and actually do their freaking work, we would've have the gagah samudera class ship way earlier and who knows, we might even see a much more fitted out ship based on gagah samudera design for LMS project.
.....
Lots of free space aft of the mast and the quarter deck.
Hopefully a ESM will be added even if the ships are not fully fitted out anytime soon.
@ azlan
Latest ESM systems are miniturized and can run on COT systems. Surely something cheap and small like the aselsan milked-4t could be fitted to the LMS68.
Hopefully an optical radar like the Spynel-x would also be fitted. This would be helpful in finding small objects at sea such as shipwrecked persons or even submarine periscopes.
As for the LMS68, imo it should be extended to a 2nd batch, even if it is not to the full planned 18 ships. Another 5 would be okay. At a price way less than the 1st batch. Probably could transfer the 57mm from FACs to the batch 2 LMS68.
https://www.malaysiandefence.com/another-perspective-lms-2/