SHAH ALAM: This is the second story on the contracts, LOI and LOA announced at LIMA 2023 on May 25. Due to time constraints Malaysian Defence was unable to post the whole story on the day itself. Yesterday, the first story on the Army contracts was published. This post will concentrate on RMN contracts, LOI and LOA for RMN announced on May 25.
Of course, on May 26, the sixth LCS supplementary contract was announce and it was a doozy.
Again, the signing ceremony at LIMA 2023 was just for publicity only as the actual documents have been signed or awarded much earlier.
Contracts
Gading Marine Industry Sdn Bhd. RM197 million for the supply of fast interceptor craft. The number of FICs contracted was not announced at the show, but Malaysian Defence has reported that it will be thirteen. This a follow up contract to the original contract for six FIC issued under Op Benteng UOR.
BHIC Bofors Sdn Bhd. RM15.7 million for the supply and delivery of spare parts for Bofors 57mm/L70 guns.
Rizqan Tijarah Sdn Bhd. RM90 million for the supply of battery pack for the Black Shark torpedoes. The tender issued in November stated it is for the supply of new battery for the torpedoes. The tender was cancelled after it was issued and likely reissued as a restricted tender.
Tulip Resources Sdn Bhd. RM27 million for the development and commissioning of integrated readiness and information system. The tender for RMN-IRIS was published in June 2022. The public portion of the specifications was too sparse to make any sense of what it is.
LOA
Enigma Technical Solutions Sdn Bhd. RM19.9 million for the supply of submarine decoy and anti-sonar beacons. The tender for this was issued in November 2021 but was cancelled.
Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering Sdn Bhd. RM11.35 million for the slipping service of Bunga MAS 5 auxiliary ship.
MSET Shipbuilding Corporation Sdn Bhd. RM47.98 million for KD Ganyang obsolescence programme.
BHIC Submarine Services Sdn Bhd. RM99.8 million for the ISS programme for the Scorpene class submarines.
— Malaysian Defence
rm48 million (~usd10 million) to essentially rebuilt 1 FAC without the guns and sensors is definitely ‘cheap’ but alas it still have limitations when operating at higher seas state. Will it be wise to limit most of the FAC and Laksamana operations in Selat Melaka and Lahad Datu and let the Kedahs, Kasturis and Lekiu for South China sea?
@Marhalim
any details on the submarine decoys and anti sonar beacons?
just to be sure, is KD Ganyang obsolescence includes hull replacement, powerpack replacement and new domestic cms
and eots amirite?
Only the first two, and the CMS one will depend on a few issues
Yes the FACs and Laksamana class are in limited operations in SCS. No idea really on submarine decoys
Luqman – “Will it be wise to limit most of the FAC and Laksamana operations in Selat Melaka and Lahad Datu and let the Kedahs, Kasturis and Lekiu for South China sea”
What’s “wise “ and what’s essential can be two profoundly different things as is the fact that what ideally should be done and what has to be done can be two profoundly different things. The RMN deploys it’s limited assets to where they’re needed the most; i.e. FACs traditionally have been based in Tanjung Gelang and Labuan.
off topic
Seems that in the past, RMN used to sail and race a Cuttyhunk 38 design yacht build fully with Chengal wood in Pulau Duyong terengganu. The name of the yacht is Dondang Sayang. Anyone knew the history of the yacht under RMN ownership?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_O1nH2C2n54
Also what is the history of RMN current Contessa 32 yachts, the Marikh and Musytari? Marikh still in Lumut and still active, and Musytari supposedly now in Telok Sepanggar?
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Chpq5TqUYAAdRaQ.jpg
“the actual documents have been signed or awarded much earlier.”
Or the order had already been fulfilled.
Not for some of them
Did the navy decommissioned KA Bunga Mas Enam? Long time no see
I think its undergoing a refit
Bunga Mas 6 has been returned to MISC for quite sometime now. Currently only BM5 is loaned by MISC to TLDM.
It is anchored in Kuala Linggi, used by ALAM students for practical training.
https://www.bharian.com.my/berita/kes/2019/07/590733/pelatih-kolej-vokasional-ditemui-lemas
@ luqman
TLDM decided to use Opex to get what can be considered as practically a new ship disguised as a “refit” program.
Disadvantage of this is that the ship design-wise is stuck to whatever design the original ship is, in case of Perdana class, a design from late 60s/early 70s. Human knowledge of naval design has progressed a lot since that time.
Yes the 47m Perdana FAC was not designed to operate offshore for prolonged periods. But it is not because of its size, but more because of its design. It has low freeboards, and also a low bow design, that would be swamped by water in heavy seas.
In the past decade, quite a few design has been created for ships of around 40-60m in length that can comfortably sail offshore in heavy seas, unlike say the Perdana FAC design.
One of them is this:
https://repository.tudelft.nl/islandora/object/uuid%3A79c62e8e-6be8-4020-87d2-96c311d6ced4
the same design has been used worldwide, in harsh climates such as in antarctic ocean for example, with costs of around the same as the OP refit.
https://www.thesundaily.my/archive/1989167-NSARCH398439