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Malaysia launches its first DCNS Gowind-based Littoral Combat Ship

Malaysia’s Boustead Naval Shipyard (BNS) has launched the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN)’s first Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) – the KD Maharaja Lela (2501) – on Thursday, August 24.

The KD Maharaja Lela is the first of six LCS ships ordered by Kuala Lumpur from BNS, which was awarded a $2.1 billion U.S. contract in July 2014 to construct the ships. BNS began constructing the lead ship the KD Maharaja Lela in March 2016. It is scheduled to enter service in 2019.

The Maharaja Lela-class LCS was derived from the DCNS Gowind 2500 corvette, which lends the LCS its low infrared and magnetic detectability and radar cross-section (RCS) hull.

Malaysia’s Minister of Defence Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein celebrated the launch by citing the LCS’ value for the RMN’s efforts to support Malaysia’s security interests.

“With the LCS vessels, I hope the RMN’s ability to protect the country’s sovereignty will be greatly boosted, especially when it comes to facing the Islamic State threats,” Hussein told local media at the event.

Navy Recognition reported in 2015 that the LCS will be armed with a 57 mm BAE Systems Bofors as its main gun, Kongsberg Naval Strike Missile (via two quad-cells), two triple Sea J+S anti-submarine warfare torpedo launchers, a MSI Seahawk 30 mm gun and vertical launch system cells for surface-to-air missiles. Its sensor suite will comprise of the Thales Smart-S Mk2 radar and CAPTAS-2 towed array sonar.

The LCS has a length of 111 m and displacement of 3,000 tons. It is manned by 118 crewmembers and support a medium-weight naval helicopter, such as the Westland Lynx in service with the RMN.

In parallel to the LCS, the RN is also procuring four Littoral Mission Ships (LMS) from China to support its long-term “15-to-5” modernization plan, which aims to reduce the number of ship types the RMN uses to five in order to reduce logistics costs and increase efficiency.

author avatar
Bilal Khan Founder
Founder of Quwa, Bilal has been researching Pakistani defence industry and security issues for over 15 years. His work has been cited by Pakistan's National Defence University (NDU), the Council of Foreign Relations, Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, Centre of Airpower Studies and many others. He has a Hons. B.A in Political Science and Masters of Interntional Public Policy from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
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13 Comments

  • by John John Slade
    Posted August 25, 2017 9:30 am 0Likes

    Also Aselsan has open new plant in Malaysia.

  • by Steve
    Posted August 25, 2017 10:21 am 0Likes

    What are the missiles, are they VL-MICA? Good well rounded ship if a bit small and lacking in weapons range.

  • by Bilal Khan
    Posted August 26, 2017 8:33 am 0Likes

    Seems to be VL-MICA.

  • by Steve
    Posted August 26, 2017 9:52 am 0Likes

    It’s gone quiet on the MILGEM acquisition front. I hope it means they are going for larger VLS equipped ships, and are negotiating missiles.

  • by Bilal Khan
    Posted August 26, 2017 10:16 am 0Likes

    The Letter-of-Intent is in place, it’s now onto commercial contracts (to the various OEMs). Fortunately, the requirement for 4 corvettes was listed in the recent MoDP report, so this is something in place. It just hasn’t been effected yet, but there was a lag time between the LoI for the Chinese subs and when specific contracts were issued to CSIC.

  • by Shakeel
    Posted August 26, 2017 11:33 am 0Likes

    May I add my two ounce worth of primitive knowledge. Most likely it’s gonna be MILGEM minus VLS.

    Good acquisition from Malaysia.

    Hope you are all keeping swell?

  • by MT
    Posted August 26, 2017 1:29 pm 0Likes

    Mk41 isn’t exportable and turks don’t have their own vls so I doubt if Pakistani ll but milgem.

  • by Shakeel
    Posted August 26, 2017 4:51 pm 0Likes

    Sorry, who ruffled your feathers. I was talking to the great Steve.

  • by Steve
    Posted August 26, 2017 6:17 pm 0Likes

    There are Chinese alternatives to Mk 41 and could be customised. Depends on the missiles we’re getting, and of course if the navy wants a step up in capability from F-22P.

  • by Bilal Khan
    Posted August 26, 2017 8:23 pm 0Likes

    If it’s the lengthened hull MILGEM (e.g. LF-2400) then there’s room for VLS. Pakistan’s VLS options can include Denel’s proprietary design for the Umkhonto and/or MBDA Sylver A43 with the MICA-VL.

  • by MT
    Posted August 26, 2017 10:29 pm 0Likes

    French haven’t sold anything to pak in this decade so options Limited to south Africans, china
    But I assume that if pak ever decide to get vls, it would buy Cheeni frigate.

  • by Steve
    Posted August 27, 2017 3:24 am 0Likes

    I agree Bilal, LF-2400 would accommodate a 16 cell VLS. Either of the options you mentioned would suit us, or a Chinese system. We do need long range air defence missiles as we face adversaries armed with long range ASM. Smaller ships with a good radar and packed with a big punch has been done before. For littorals and short range missiles we already have F-22P. I hope the navy decide to upgrade capability. The cost spread over time will not be much different. We built the fleet tanker recently. Building in-house could reduce costs.

  • by Annas E Ahmad
    Posted August 27, 2017 5:58 am 0Likes

    VL Mica it is.

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