Engineering:Maharaja Lela-class frigate

From HandWiki
Short description: Stealth frigates being built for the Royal Malaysian Navy

Lua error in Module:Infobox_ship at line 147: attempt to call upvalue 'ship_name_format' (a nil value).

The Maharaja Lela-class frigate, also known as the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), is a class of six stealth frigates being built for the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN).[1] First announced as the Second Generation Patrol Vessel (SGPV) in 2011, the ships are based on an enlarged version of the Gowind-class design, designed by Naval Group, formerly known as DCNS of France.

The contract has been finalised and it has been decided that all six ships will be built by local shipbuilder Boustead Heavy Industries Corporation (BHIC) and later Lumut Naval Shipyard for the RMN at a ceiling price of RM9 billion (US$2.8 billion), starting from 2015.[2] With the ships being 111 metres (364 ft 2 in) long and a displacement of 3,100 tonnes (3,100 long tons), it would be the largest and most modern surface combatants in the Royal Malaysian Navy to date once delivered, being longer and more capable than the Lekiu-class frigate.[3]

Development

In early 2011, Malaysia announced its SGPV program with a budget of RM6 billion (US$1.9 billion) and six foreign shipbuilders announced interest in the project, most notably ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems with the MEKO 200 and Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding with the Sigma class 10514 as well as Naval Group's Gowind-class design which was ultimately selected.[4]

In late 2011, it was announced that the Gowind class had been chosen and that the SGPV program had been awarded to Boustead Heavy Industries Corporation (BHIC) / Naval Group, with the ceiling price increasing to RM9 billion (US$2.8 billion) from RM6 billion (US$1.9 billion). The RM9 billion (US$2.8 billion) contract included intellectual property rights and technology transfer.[5] The ships' sizes had also changed in accordance with the increase in ceiling price, increasing from 2,700 tonnes (2,700 long tons) to 3,100 tonnes (3,100 long tons). All six ships will be built in Lumut, Malaysia and electronic components will be assembled in Cyberjaya, a township in Malaysia just south of Kuala Lumpur. At DSA 2014, BHIC confirmed that the program is progressing rather well, with some parts already in critical design review the first ship expected to be finished by 2019. BHIC was in charge of designing the Malaysian specification.[6]


Delays

In 2020, the Malaysian government announced that the LCS project had encountered some delays.[7] The Ministry of Defence awarded the project to BHIC in 2011 and at least two vessels slated by 2020 had not been delivered. The Ministry of Defence considered two options to resolve the delayed RM9 billion LCS project by BHIC. The first option required BHIC to complete the first of two ships, while the second option was for the government to ask Naval Group (the original designer) to complete the ships; the latter option was rejected by parliament.[8]

Following the delays, the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said it would call up former defence minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. PAC chairman Wong Kah Woh said former RMN chief, Admiral Abdul Aziz Hj Jaafar and the main contractor of the LCS project, BHIC would also be called.[9] Pangkor assemblyman Zambry Abdul Kadir said about 200 vendors and contractors would shut down and 10,000 workers would be affected if the LCS program continued to be delayed.[10] On 5 May 2021, the Malaysian government decided that it would retain BHIC as the class' shipbuilder.[11] In November 2021, Minister of Defence, Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein said, the first ship will be commissioned in 2025.[12]

On 4 August 2022, the PAC reported that RM1.4 billion had been misappropriated and that the project had been awarded through direct negotiations without an open tender.[13] The then-defence minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had reportedly accepted the navy's preferred choice for a Sigma-class design on 26 May 2011, but then decided in favour of the Gowind-class design on 11 July 2011 after a discussion with Boustead Naval Shipyard.[14] Then-chief of navy Abdul Aziz Jaafar protested against the choice and later stated that the RMN had fought a "losing battle, right from the start", citing that the Sigma was a proven concept with other navies operating it, unlike the Gowind design.[15]

On 16 August 2022, former managing director of BHIC Ahmad Ramli Mohd Nor was charged with three counts of criminal breach of trust in Sessions Court, where he pleaded not guilty. The accused had previously served as chief of navy prior to his BHIC appointment.[16] The following day, Senior Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said that a Royal Commission of Inquiry is expected to be established to investigate the procurement process and subsequent non-delivery of the ships.[17]

Resumption

In January 2023, after a review by the Malaysian government, the LCS project was relaunched, though it was decided to acquire only five ships instead of six.[18] Detailed design works by Lumut Naval Shipyard were handed over to the RMN in October 2024.[19] Maharaja Lela sailed underway on her own power for the first time on 28 January 2026 during her sea trials.[20]

Characteristics

General

Specifications

  • Displacement – 3,100 tons
  • Length – 111 m (overall) / 105 m (waterline)
  • Breadth – 16 m (main deck) / 14.2 m (waterline)
  • Draught – 3.85 m
  • Propulsion – CODAD
  • Maximum speed – 28 knots
  • Range – 5,000 nm at 15 knots
  • Crew – 138
  • Survivability – Sea State 9
  • Endurance – 21 days
  • Aircraft carried – 1 × Super Lynx 300 / Fennec AS555 / AW139 / EC725

Sensors

SMART-S radar for the LCS

It is believed that the RMN had requested for the Thales Herakles radar, as used on the FREMM frigates, but BHIC chose the SMART-S radar instead.[21]

  • Combat system: Naval Group SETIS
  • Search radar: Thales SMART-S Mk2
  • Fire control radar: Rheinmetall TMEO Mk2 electro-optical tracking system & TMX/EO Mk2
  • Sonar: Thales CAPTAS-2 ASW suite with hull sonar and towed array sonar

Armament

The stealth 57 mm gun to equip the LCS, seen with the barrel retracted

The Bofors 57 mm gun will be mounted in a stealth cupola similar to the ones mounted on the Swedish Script error: The function "sclass" does not exist.s. This frigate will also be equipped with two MSI DS30M 30 mm cannons as secondary guns. BHIC also announced the allocation of 16 Sylver VLS on the deck of the ship for surface-to-air missiles, though the missiles had yet been not contracted as of 2019. While the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) was not specifically mentioned in the contract, Kongsberg has received a Letter of Award worth approximately €20,000,000 at LIMA 2015 from Boustead Naval Shipyard for the NSM. The delivery is to prepare for NSM anti-ship missiles onboard the upcoming RMN's LCS which will consist of the necessary fixed installations such as launchers, cables, electronics and integration to the combat management system SETIS to be provided by DCNS.[22] For anti-submarine capabilities, it is confirmed that the ships will be equipped with two J+S fixed triple torpedo launchers.[23]

Ships of the class

Name Pennant number Builders Laid down Launched Commissioned Homeport Notes
Maharaja Lela 2501 BHIC / Lumut Naval Shipyard 8 March 2016 24 August 2017[24] December 2026[20]
Raja Muda Nala 2502 28 February 2017[25][26] 9 May 2025[27][28] August 2027[20]
Sharif Masahor 2503 18 December 2017[29]
Mat Salleh 2504 31 October 2018[30]
Tok Janggut 2505 TBA[31]
Mat Kilau Cancelled[18]

See also

  • List of naval ship classes in service
  • List of equipment of the Royal Malaysian Navy

Notes

References

  1. ↑ "Malaysian Ministry of Defence Confirms Construction of Gowind ships for LCS program". navyrecognition.com. 28 October 2013. http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/year-2013-news/october-2013-navy-world-naval-forces-maritime-industry-technology-news/1314-malaysian-ministry-of-defence-confirms-construction-of-gowind-ships-for-lcs-program.html. 
  2. ↑ Abas, Marhalim (17 July 2014). "SGPV-LCS Contract Formalised". Malaysian Defence. http://www.malaysiandefence.com/?p=4646. 
  3. ↑ "Royal Malaysian Navy Releases First Official Image of its LCS-SGPV Corvette". navyrecognition.com. 27 August 2014. http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/year-2014-news/august-2014-navy-naval-forces-maritime-industry-technology-security-global-news/1969-royal-malaysian-navy-releases-first-official-image-of-its-lcs-sgpv-frigate.html. 
  4. ↑ Abas, Marhalim (22 February 2011). "SGPV or LCS...Part II". Malaysian Defence. http://www.malaysiandefence.com/?p=1379. 
  5. ↑ Abas, Marhalim (17 December 2011). "SGPV/LCS/ Frigate awarded to BNS/DCNS Ceiling Price Goes Up to RM9 billion". Malaysian Defence. http://www.malaysiandefence.com/?p=1950. 
  6. ↑ "Malaysian Navy Gowind SGPV LCS program update at DSA 2014 with Boustead". Youtube. 25 April 2014. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7mUMOAwMnQ. 
  7. ↑ "Here We Go Again LCS - Malaysian Defence". 3 August 2020. https://www.malaysiandefence.com/here-we-go-again-lcs/. 
  8. ↑ "Boustead: No comment on littoral combat ship project resumption until official confirmation". 10 May 2021. https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/boustead-no-comment-littoral-combat-ship-project-resumption-until-official-confirmation. 
  9. ↑ "Defence ministry wants RM180 mil for delay in combat ship delivery". 22 December 2020. https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2020/12/22/defence-ministry-wants-rm180-mil-for-delay-in-combat-ship-delivery/. 
  10. ↑ "Ismail Sabri: Cabinet to decide on fate of littoral combat ship project". 26 April 2021. https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2021/04/685631/ismail-sabri-cabinet-decide-fate-littoral-combat-ship-project. 
  11. ↑ Rahmat, Ridzwan (12 May 2021). "Malaysia retains Boustead as shipbuilder for LCS programme" (in en). https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/malaysia-retains-boustead-as-shipbuilder-for-lcs-programme. 
  12. ↑ "Kapal Pertama LCS Disasar Siap Pada Tahun 2025.". 15 November 2021. https://defencesecurityasia.com/kapal-tldm-lcs-sasar-siap/. 
  13. ↑ "Malaysia to charge ex-top official of contractor firm linked to combat ship scandal" (in en). The Straits Times. 15 August 2022. https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/malaysia-to-charge-ex-top-official-linked-to-combat-ship-scandal. 
  14. ↑ Radzi Razak (17 August 2002). "Declassified investigation report finds Zahid changed LCS design against Royal Malaysian Navy's wishes". Malaymail. https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2022/08/17/declassified-investigation-report-finds-zahid-changed-lcs-design-against-royal-malaysian-navys-wishes/23268. 
  15. ↑ "Ex-Malaysian navy chief says complaints to Najib, Zahid about ship contract unheeded" (in en). The Straits Times. 15 August 2022. https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/ex-malaysian-navy-chief-says-complaints-to-najib-zahid-about-ship-contract-unheeded. 
  16. ↑ Rahmat Khairulrijal (16 August 2022). "LCS fiasco: Former Navy chief charged with 3 counts of CBT [NSTTV"]. New Straits Times. https://www.nst.com.my/news/crime-courts/2022/08/822675/lcs-fiasco-former-navy-chief-charged-3-counts-cbt-nsttv. 
  17. ↑ Rashvinjeet S Bedi (17 August 2022). "Proposal for royal commission to probe Malaysia's warship deal presented to Cabinet: Defence minister" (in en). CNA. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/malaysia-lcs-navy-scandal-boustead-rci-cabinet-defence-minister-hishammuddin-2885701. 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Noor, Hafidzul Hilmi Mohd (30 January 2023). "RMN's Littoral Combat Ships reduced from six to five vessels" (in en). NST Online. https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2023/01/874793/rmns-littoral-combat-ships-reduced-six-five-vessels. 
  19. ↑ Lee, Albert (14 October 2024). "Malaysia Completes Detailed Design on Littoral Combat Ship Frigate". Naval News. https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2024/10/malaysia-completes-detailed-design-on-littoral-combat-ship-frigate/. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 Lee, Albert (30 January 2026). "Malaysia's Littoral Combat Ship Set Sail for the First Time". Naval News. https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2026/01/malaysias-littoral-combat-ship-set-sail-for-the-first-time/. 
  21. ↑ "Thales SMART-S Mk2 radar and CAPTAS- 2 towed sonar confirmed for Malaysia LCS program". navyrecognition.com. 18 February 2014. http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/year-2014-news/february-2014-navy-naval-forces-maritime-industry-technology-security-global-news/1576-thales-smart-s-mk2-radar-and-captas-2-towed-sonar-confirmed-for-malaysia-lcs-program.html. 
  22. ↑ "Letter of Award for NSM ships equipment with Malaysian Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd". 9 April 2015. http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/year-2015-news/april-2015-navy-naval-forces-defense-industry-technology-maritime-security-global-news/2590-letter-of-award-for-nsm-ships-equipment-with-malaysian-boustead-naval-shipyard-sdn-bhd.html. 
  23. ↑ "J+S Ltd to supply the Torpedo Launching System for the Royal Malaysian Navy LCS/SGPV corvettes". navyrecognition.com. 24 September 2014. https://www.sea.co.uk/maritime/products/torpedo-launcher-systems/. 
  24. ↑ "Royal Malaysian Navy Launched its First LCS Gowind Frigate KD Maharaja Lela". https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/2017/august-2017-navy-naval-forces-defense-industry-technology-maritime-security-global-news/5505-royal-malaysian-navy-launched-its-first-lcs-gowind-frigate-kd-maharaja-lela.html. 
  25. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named malaysiandefence2
  26. ↑ "RMN's LCS 2 Completes First Stage of Painting Process". January 2025. https://defencesecurityasia.com/en/video-rmns-lcs-2-completes-first-stage-of-painting-process/. 
  27. ↑ "Malaysia's second Littoral Combat Ship Raja Muda Nala enters water as construction reaches final stages.". Army Recognition. 2025-05-09. https://armyrecognition.com/news/navy-news/2025/malaysias-second-littoral-combat-ship-raja-muda-nala-enters-water-as-construction-reaches-final-stages. 
  28. ↑ "LCS 2 officially named as Raja Muda Nala.". Malaysian Defence. 2025-07-03. https://www.malaysiandefence.com/lcs-2-officially-named-as-pcu-raja-muda-nala/. 
  29. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named malaysiandefence1
  30. ↑ "Fourth LCS Keel Laying Ceremony - Malaysian Defence". 22 October 2018. http://www.malaysiandefence.com/fourth-lcs-keel-laying-ceremony/. 
  31. ↑ "Here We Go Again LCS - Malaysian Defence". 3 August 2020. https://www.malaysiandefence.com/here-we-go-again-lcs/. 

Template:Royal Malaysian Navy Ships



Retrieved from "https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Engineering:Maharaja_Lela-class_frigate&oldid=4193887"