MMEA : 10 years in Service - Upgrading the Capability

TWO German-designs are said to be in the running for the project to replace the two 30-year-old Langkawi-class OPVs operated by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA). Funding for the new OPVs was announced in the 2016 budget.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak when tabling the budget stated that the government has allocated RM864 million to the MMEA for the procurement of new OPVs and patrol boats.

The two Langkawi class OPVs, KM Langkawi (ex KD Musytari) and KM Banggi (ex-KD Marikh) had been in service with MMEA since 2008. Both ships were originally commissioned into the Royal Malaysian Navy in 1987, mostly for patrols in the Malaysian Exclusive Economic Zone in the South China Sea. Both were originally armed with a 100mm main gun and a twin 30mm cannons. It is likely both no longer operate the guns.

KM Langkawi. MMEA picture.

The two ships – one built in South Korea and the other at the Malaysian Shipyard & Engineering in Johor under a technology transfer programme – were supposed to herald a new age of maritime industrialisation for the country.

However, no further ships of the same class were ordered as the government then tacked to another direction following a proposal for a tri-nation ship-building project with Australia and New Zealand.

KM Perwira, one of the two Bay class patrol boats donated to MMEA by Australia. The Bay class was introduced into service in 1999, the same year the NGPV project started.

The proposed tri-nation project failed to materialise as the RMN could not agree to the vessel proposed by the Australians. They wanted a smaller vessel, basically a patrol vessel but RMN wanted something more capable than the OPVs (Musytari and Marikh), the so-called New Generation Patrol Vessel (NGPV).

After a period of economic up=and downs, the NGPV design was finally selected, the Mek0 100, from the German Naval Group which had teamed up with PSC Bhd. With the selection of the design, the ship building industry also made another turn when the contract for the NGPV was signed in late 1998.

Pahang, the second ship of the Kedah class undergoing completion in 2005.

As part of the deal, the company took over the Naval dockyard in Lumut where the NGPVs were supposed to be completed and build. The facility has since been renamed as Boustead Naval Dockyard after the Boustead group took over the NGPV project around 2005 after PSC was ran into financial difficulties.

Two Kedah class, KD Kelantan (175) and KD Selangor (176) berthed at Lumut jetty in early 2014. The ship on the other side is KD Mahawangsa. Malaysian Defence

The New OPV

Like the MMEA NGPC, the new OPVs are expected to be built locally – at least one – most likely at the the Labuan Shipyard which is 50 per cent owned by the Radimax Group.

A model of the Amazon class at the Radimax booth

At Lima 15, Malaysian Defence reported that Radimax Group “had teamed up with BAE Systems to offer the Amazon class OPV to meet the requirements of the MMEA.” However, Malaysian Defence has been told that the proposed industrial collaboration has fallen through for various reasons.

As it is, the OPV under consideration according to industry sources have now been narrowed down to two German designs, namely, the Fassmer 80m OPV and Lurssen 85m OPV. It is likely only one design would be presented for approval. The new OPVs are expected to be around 1,800 tons, equipped with a flight deck and hangar for a medium size helicopter and a top speed of more than 22 knots.

Fassmer 80M OPV

At least six of the Fassmer 80m OPVs are currently operated by the Chilean and Colombian navies with another four to be completed soon. Notably all of these vessels were built in Chile and Colombian shipyards, respectively, with the cooperation of foreign companies.

Fassmer designed the OPV to meet the requirement of the Chilean navy which subsequently marketed the design to other South American countries, Apart from Colombia, Argentina had also signed for the same OPV. However, the Argentinian project never took off, most likely due to the country’s economic difficulties.

Chilean Navy Comandante Policarpo Toro OPV. Chile Navy

These OPVs are armed with a 40mm main gun with HMG mountings, aft and a flight deck and hangar for a medium-size helicopter like the Airbus Helicopters Dauphin. The latest Chilean OPV is armed with a 76mm main gun though and had a strengthened hull for operations in the Antarctic.

Lurssen 85 metre OPV

As the MMEA requirement calls for a flight deck and hangar for a medium size helicopter, Lurssen’s 85m OPV design is expected to be offered for the programme.

A CGI of the Lurssen 85 metre OPV

The design is a variant of the Darussalam class OPV of the Royal Brunei Navy, which has a flight deck for a medium-size helicopter but no hangar.

KD Darussalam, the first of the four OPVs built by Lurssen for the Royal Brunei Navy.

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Compared to the Chilean and Colombian OPVs, the Brunei ships despite their designation are considered main combat vessels and therefore are armed more heavily. The four Darussalam class OPVs are fitted with Exocet SSMs while three are armed with a 57mm main gun and two 20mm guns. The fourth OPV, KD Darultaqwa is equipped with a 27mm main gun and twin 20mm guns.

The stern RHIB launcher of KD Darussalam.

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Guns and other things

It is unlikely that the new MMEA OPV will be equipped with missiles though a 57mm gun – similar to the RMN’s new LCS – could still be chosen as the main armament. MMEA is likely to opt for a 30mm gun as the OPV main gun like its NGPC of which six are being built. MMEA could also opt for fitted for but not equipped for the OPV when it comes to the armaments suite if need be.

Apart from the embarked helicopter, it is likely that the OPV will also operate with a UAV though it is unclear whether the builder will be the one which decide on the air vehicle to be chosen.

A Scan Eagle launches from a pneumatic wedge catapult launcher on the flight deck aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Saipan. US Navy picture.

Analysis

On paper, the Lurssen design which is likely to be fitted with MTU engines must be the odds-on favourite to win the contract. MMEA like the RMN has long term maintenance and support contract with MTU Services (M) Sdn Bhd, one of the main factors in the selection of any ship’s entry into both fleet. Even the two ex-Bay class patrol boats are fitted with MTU engines as did the proposed ex-US Navy Mark V boats.

However, as all of the Darussalam class were built in Germany (as shown by the picture below), building the new variant – even just one- locally will add complexity and costs to the project.

KDB Darussalam 06 Description: Under construction at Lürssen Werft GmbH & Co. KG, Bremen in service from 2011 80 meter Offshore patrol vessel ordered from Lurssen Werft  Bofors 57mm, 'A' position  Thales Sting EO MK2 fire-control radar  Terma Scanter 4100 air/surface search radar  Zeiss MEOS II electro-optics  2 x Furano navigation radars  4 x Exocet MM40

If the Lurssen design, is chosen, it will be a second coming for the German shipyard in Malaysia. The RMN still operates nine ships built at the former Hong Leong Lurssen shipyard, seven Jerong class FACs and the two hydrographic ships. Many of the patrol boats (ex-Marine police) operated by MMEA, were also build at the same shipyard.

Meanwhile, the Fassmer OPV has better potential for local collaboration as it had been built in two different shipyards in South America. As the MMEA OPVs are to be built locally, the track record of the Fassmer design cannot be taken lightly.

That said it will probably be cheaper and faster for the two new OPVs to be built either at the Chilean or Colombian shipyards which are already building the same design.

Chilean Navy OPV Comandante Policarpo Toro (82) waiting to be launched at the Asmar shipyard, Chile. Along side her is the third OPV under construction. Internet

One thing that may work against the Fassmer design is the engines. The current batch of Chilean and Colombian vessels are fitted with Wartsila diesels. If the Fassmer design is selected, MTU diesels will probably be the engines of choice due to the reason mentioned above. The NGPC, which is also a Fassmer design, is also to be fitted with MTU engines.

— Malaysian Defence

Tq for the article : Malaysia Defence

MMEA : Upgrading of Malaysia Coast Guard Capability

Malaysia Coast Guard their 10 years of establishment with the following  objectives

1. To ensure Malaysian Maritime Zone is safe and peaceful to maritime communities.
2. To minimize loss of lives and properties at sea based on a set standard.
3. To establish an effective and effecient search and rescue cooperation in the region.
4. To establish a conductive working environment that facilitates cooperation between the international maritime communities and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.

VISION

" TO BE AMONG THE BEST MARITIME LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN THE WORLD "

MISSION  

" TO ENFORCE LAWS, SAVING LIVES AND PROPERTIES AT SEA IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF MALAYSIAN MARITIME ZONE (MMZ)

and to perform the above task, they were given 20 years old ships from Royal Malaysia Navy, Fishery and Police Marine boat that by standard are closed to scrap metal. 

After 10 years fighting , 2015 MMEA saw some light, as they were approved by Government  to build six units of Coastal Patrol Vessels for RM381.30 million. The construction of the vessels will be done in stages; with the first vessel expected to be delivered to MMEA by December 2016 while the last vessel is expected to be delivered by June 2018. 

The Coastal Patrol Vessels are state of the art vessels with a comprehensive specification. The vessels can achieve a top speed of 24 knots and will have a complement of 41 crew members. The vessels will also be equipped with a 30mm weapon system and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) for reconnaissance, designed by Fassmer Group, a very established shipyard from Germany to ensure that the vessels are delivered with excellent quality standards. 

The programme already in delay compare to the original project Planning. No proper project Management team from the date it's was launched and announce. 

Recently 1 x Captain in rank was appointed to be the Project Leader , he is known as very clean person and reputable person. Hopefully , this shipbuilding project will break a record as the only shipbuilding project in Malaysia deliver in time. 

Good luck Captain 

There were another 2  OPV ships will be build for mmea. 750m for 3 ships. So far the following company has done the presentation with their shipbuilder

 a. MSET 

b. XV Asia Technology 

c, Tenggara Nasa + Rolls Royce Skadi

d. Muhibbah Engineering

e. BAE System International

Few more company will propose their design or proposing selling ready made ship. There were parties claimed can deliver 3 ships , ready made for RM500.

So..shopping time MMEA. 

RMN-MSDF Exercise In Sabah

KOTA KINABALU, Feb 26 (Bernama) -- The Royal Malaysian Navy has described its joint exercise with Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (MSDF) as a key platform to strengthen naval cooperation.

Region II commander Rear Admiral Datuk Khairul Anuar Yahya said through such training, both sides could share experience and expertise.

"This is one way for us to gain knowledge besides being able to share experience and expertise particularly in our naval operations," he said at a dinner function last night at the RMN base in Teluk Sepangar near here.

Three MSDF ships, Akebono (DD-108), Yamayuki (DD129) and Hatakaze (DDG-171); two RMN ships, KD Perak and KD Lakasamana Muhammad Amin; 110 trainees; and 120 officers and personnel are involved in the four-day exercise till Sunday.

Meanwhile, MSDF's Escort Division 11 commander, Capt Kazuhiko Mizoe said the exercise was an overseas training and exposure for the 110 trainees.

"Before arriving in Malaysia, we conducted a similar exercise in Cambodia and we hope this visit will further strengthen relations between both countries," he said.

-- BERNAMA

OSI Gains Contracts in Indian Ocean Region

Friday, 9 October 2015
Naval Forces

The combined display of OSI Maritime Systems and IHS at Pacific 2015.
(Photo: Mitchell Sutton)

Navigation, command and control (C2), and tactical systems provider OSI Maritime Systems is maintaining its involvement in the Indian Ocean region with a varied series of new tenders and contracts.
The Australian market is currently proving to be a lucrative one for the firm. According company sources, OSI will soon install its Tactical Asset and Control Tracking (T-ACT) C2 system in the Royal Australian Navy’s new, NAVANTIA-built, LCM-1E landing craft. The T-ACT system allows small-craft and helicopters to view each other’s positions in real time, and for information from multiple sensors to be woven into a single tactical picture for mission coordinators. It is already in service with the Royal Canadian Navy and UK Police.
OSI is also providing additional systems to the two "Canberra" class LHDs, as the first of class (HMAS "Canberra") works up into full operational capacity. The company plans to integrate the Ship Helicopter Operating Limits (SHOL) module into the vessel’s existing ECPINS integrated navigation and tactical system, which it had earlier installed. This upgrade is designed to expedite the takeoff, landing and control of the ADF’s MH-60R and S-70B-2 SEAHWAKs, MRH90 TAIPAN, CH-47 CHINOOK, S-70 BLACKHAWK, and TIGER ARH helicopters from the new platform. According to the company, it is also making a contribution to the tranche of proposed upgrades to the "Collins" class Submarine, through updates to its existing ECPINS Submarine navigation system.
Other countries in the Indian Ocean region have also recently engaged the company in new contracts. In 2013, Malaysia awarded OSI a contract to provide its six future Second Generation Patrol Vessel-Littoral Combat Ships (SGPV-LCS), based on the DCNS Gowind 2500 corvette design, with the Integrated Navigation and Tactical System (INTS) bridge system and ECPINS Warship integrated navigation and tactical system; the latter is outfitted with the Warship Automatic Identification System (W-AIS) module. Installation work is likely to begin in the near future, with production beginning at Boustead Naval Shipyard in June 2015 for an expected 2019 entry into service for the first of class.
Another market which has proven valuable to OSI in 2015 has been South Africa. In February this year, OSI signed a contract with the South African Navy to install its T-ACT system onto rigid hulled semi-inflatables (RHIBs). No indication has yet been given by the company on the status of this project.
By Mitchell Sutton

A critical test report on the embattled Littoral Combat Ship was “unfair" - US NAVY

WASHINGTON: On Friday, a Navy official told us a critical test report on the embattled Littoral Combat Ship was “unfair.” This afternoon, we found out the Pentagon’s independent test office has already circulated a coldly scathing response.
Defense Secretary Ash Carter has ordered the Navy to cut the LCS in favor of larger, more powerful ships. This particular test is one of the Littoral Combat Ship’s core missions, its ability to repel wolfpacks of Iranian-style fast attack craft. In the test, the USS Coronado used its 57- and 30mm cannon, but not the longer-ranged Hellfire missiles that are planned for — but not yet installed on LCS — a big part of what the Navy official called “unfair.” In essence, the famously tough office of the Director of Operational Test & Evaluation (DOT&E) is saying

• LCS should be tested with guns only because the ships will have to go in harm’s way without missiles until at least 2017;
• Even after lowering performance standards to account for the lack of missiles, the LCS still let the simulated attackers get dangerously close; and
• Adding the missiles may not make as big a difference as the Navy claims.

“On Saturday, January 30, 2016, Mr. Sydney J. Freedberg, Jr., published an article in BreakingDefense.Com titled: ‘LCS Test Vs. Fast Attack Boats “Unfair”: Missile Missing, Navy Says,'” the DOT&E letter begins. “In that article, he references an unnamed Navy official who contended the testing of LCS Increment II SUW Mission Package was unfair because it didn’t take into account the planned surface-to-surface missiles that will be added to the Mission Package in Increment III. Regretfully, the Navy spokesman was apparently not familiar with the basis for the test and many of his statements are incorrect or not related to what was being tested.”
The Navy “established a much lower performance threshold” for the missile-less LCS in a classified 2013 memo from the then-Vice-Chief of Naval Operations, DOT&E says. “It also defined what the Navy considered to be a successful engagement, specifically requiring each target to be neutralized before any of them closed to within the Navy prescribed minimum stand-off range – a range selected based on the distance at which threat weapons would have a good chance of hitting the LCS. In reality, there are several threat weapons that could hit LCS from an even greater distance…..”
Even judging by these lower standards, however, LCS let the bad guys get too close. “Though the ship was able to eventually repel the simulated attack, this was after the targets had successfully penetrated the Navy’s prescribed stand-off range,” the letter continues. “In a real battle, there would be a good chance LCS might have sustained damage at that point that could have affected its subsequent capability to successfully repel the attack.” In other words, it sounds like the test did not simulate battle damage to the Littoral Combat Ship, but rather allowed it to keep fighting — and ultimately prevail — after the point in a real engagement when it might have been too badly shot up to continue.
What if the LCS had been equipped with missiles, which the Navy sees as an integral part of the surface combat package? “When the Longbow Hellfire surface-to surface missile is finally added to LCS’s SUW (Surface Warfare) Mission Package in FY 2017, the ship will be tested again, although more robustly,” DOT&E writes (emphasis ours).






LCS-4 Coronado

The LCS Coronado test-fires a Norwegian Kongsberg missile

But the Hellfire’s performance may not be as good as destroying seven out of eight attackers, which is what the Navy official said. In fact, the 7 of 8 success rate came from a series of unrealistic scenarios designed to figure out how to adapt the Hellfire from Army helicopters to Navy ships, not to test combat performance. What’s more, there were never eight attackers in the water at one time.
So were we wrong? I’m sure there’s a lot of highly technical debate to be had, which I’m not qualified to judge. It is clear that the Littoral Combat Ship will be more capable of destroying enemies at range — and therefore more likely to survive — once the Hellfires are installed, and even more so with a future “over the horizon” anti-ship missile. What remains in passionate contention is the controversial LCS’s overall readiness for battle.


published by


breaking Defense
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. on February 02, 2016 at 8:06 PM