SHAH ALAM: LMS Steel Cutting. The steel cutting ceremony for the first LMS was conducted at Sichuan, China today. RMN chief Admiral Ahmad Kamarulzaman Badaruddin and BHIC managing director Tan Sri Ramli Mohd Nor were present at the ceremony at the Wuchang Shipbuilding Industrial Group (WSIG), Shuangliu, China. Kamarulzaman officiated the ceremony also attended by officials from China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC) and China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co Ltd (CSOC).
The release from the RMN (translated by Malaysian Defence with help by Google)
The First Steel Cutting (FSC) ceremony for the first RMN Littoral Mission Ship (LMS) was successfully implemented the Wuchang Shipbuilding Industrial Group (WSIG), Shuangliu, China. The ceremony was officiated by the RMN chief, Admiral Tan Sri Ahmad Kamarulzaman bin Hj Ahmad Badaruddin. The ceremony was also witnessed by Managing Director of Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd (BNSSB), Tan Sri Ahmad Ramli bin Hj Mohd Nor and officials from China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC) and China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co Ltd (CSOC).
The FSC ceremony is the symbolic of the start of the ship construction phase after completion of the design phase. LMS is a new class of ship that will join the RMN Fleet under the 15 to 5 Fleet Transformation Program. Through the procurement contract entered into between the Malaysian Government and the local shipbuilding company BNSSB on 23 March 2017, RMN will receive 4 LMSs with a contract value of RM1.17b. This value includes comprehensive training for the ship’s crew. BNSSB in collaboration with China Shipbuilding Offshore and International Corporation. LTD (CSOC) is building g two LMS in Wuchang Shipyard, China and followed by two more in Malaysia as part of a technology transfer program and contributes to the enhancement of the capability of building warships.
The RMN LMS contract had progressed on schedule. The design phase is now officially completed and it has entered the critical phase which is the shipbuilding activity. The first ship is expected to be ready for delivery to the RMN on Dec 31, 2019 and the second ship on March 31, 2020 as planned.
The construction period includes the installation of vessel equipment and systems as well as port and sea test activities which will take less than 18 months. This is the shortest period ever carried out in the history of the warship building for the RMN. A total of 21 officers, engineers and members of the RMN and BNSSB are currently in China throughout construction period to monitor and manage the projects to maintain the Malaysian government interests in line with contractual requirements. The construction of the third and fourth LMS vessels in Malaysia will be implemented simultaneously in the middle of 2019. The construction of two LMS vessels in Malaysia will fully employ local manpower and monitored by several engineers from the Chinese companies.
The LMS shipbuilding program will be a catalyst for the shipbuilding industry in the country. Co-operation with China as a leader in the field is capable of enhancing the country’s ability to become a competitive warship manufacturer in the region. LMS’s long-term planning will also increase employment opportunities as well as the country’s economy through the involvement of local and international companies. In addition, this acquisition will also strengthen military cooperation and defense diplomacy between Malaysia and China and provide opportunities for the development of other maritime industries.
From the latest CGI it appears that the LMS will have two 30mm guns, one at the front and the other at the rear. The guns looked very much like the H/PJ17 30mm guns manufacured by Norinco. Posted below are the close ups of the latest image of the LMS as well as the model which was displayed by BNS at DSA 2018
–Malaysian Defence
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@ marhalim
You got to cover the event in China? Great!
BTW any further info on the ships? Is the navy going to get more of the same ship design or will it be limited to just 4? Is the RLMS model in DSA2018 what the navy want actually? Isn’t the RLMS and Kedah batch 2 almost the same design, an OPV with a helipad?
https://scontent.fkul14-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/38085943_1781384415310641_3849993462770302976_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=9496d3b78f3010fb81cc5bb7eac250df&oe=5C02B7E5
Reply
No lag I am here in Malaysia. Would like to cover Pitch Black though
Congrats RMN. They actually squeeze a 3rd ISO container. Now that itself open new possibilities and flexibilities of weapon modules that can arm the LMS in the future.
The additional 30mm rear is also a good decision especially for mine clearance
@ Marhalim
Comments on the latest pictures
1) Still only 1 30mm RCWS. at the rear is just a box near the RHIB launch slipway.
2) 3 TEU equivalent containers on board.
3) Chinese HEOS-300 EO tracking system on bridge roof. Probably for aiming the H/PJ-17 30mm RCWS.
http://www.eoselectroopticalsystems.com/photo/pl16440101-electrical_optical_ir_thermal_camera_system_for_aircraft_vessel_and_vehicle_track.jpg
4) Chinese HEOS-100 secondary EO surveillance system behind the HEOS-300
http://www.eoselectroopticalsystems.com/photo/pl16552930-electro_optics_infrared_night_vision_camera_system_maritime_tracking_system.jpg
5) SR-47AG radar?
Why not get a RCWS that has integrated EO? If only 30mm and 12.7 mm guns are employed, no requirement for a CMS actually. A simple and cheap CMS, EOD and surveillance radar will only be required if improved accuracy is necessary. And what the heck are those 3 containers for? Diving support module? SAR module? Certainly will not be part of the scope of supply under this contract, methinks. Just another FFBNW…..
@ api69
There are versions of H/PJ17 with build in EO turret.
http://www.haijun360.com/china/wq-xin30/images/4.jpg
But for patrol vessel, the EO turret separate from the RCWS itself would be more useful, as it can be used for surveillance, and not to be seen as intimidating if the EO turret is seen moving on the 30mm gun itself.
It might be built with TEU container modularity but what system will it be using to harness the flexibility of the container modules? Stanflex? AFAIK, no Chinese ships are using containerised modules.
Can i know when the second frigate launch?
Reply
It’s supposed to be later this month or the next
the ship’s look has improved and much better than the china original/initial ship (Bangladeshi navy Durjoy class). For the next batch if requires helipad, BHIC has to design the ship with not too much difference than the first batch so that they have same commonolity (the initial point to have LMS to reduce the cost)
1.17B for 4 unit LMS is quite steep. For example, Indonesia Sigma PKR10514 only cost 280mil per unit. By my calculation the LMS will cost about 290mil per unit. That’s just not logical for a ship this lame to be priced more than SIGMA 10514. And Marhalim please fix your captcha not working well i had to try many times to post even though i ticked the box it wouldn’t allow me
@ jack
1.17B is in ringgit malaysia
The sigma price is in US dollars, and not including a few weapons systems.