LCS launched by BNS

another milestone achieves by BHIC with successfully launched LCS Gowind class on 24 August 2017 in Lumut Perak.

LUMUT: The government would not compromise on Malaysia’s security, despite the economic slowdown said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

He said this can be seen from the unveiling of the first second generation Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) here.

Hishammuddin said five more LCS’ in currently in the pipeline will be delivered to the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) by 2023.

"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.

He adds that apart from the home built LCS, the nation’s security is expected to be further boosted by the arrival of Littoral Mission Ships (LMS) from China.

"RMN is expected to receive four Littoral Mission Ships in stages, with two of these vessels currently being built in China, while the remaining will be built in the country," said Hishammuddin

He adds that as of July 8, the RMN had dispatched a team of 11 officers from the navy, together with nine personnel from the BNS to Wuhan, China.

He adds that the navy and BNS personnel will spend 37 months to monitor the ship-building process at Wuchang Shipyard.

“I also learnt that they are currently on Basic Design Review stage. This is to ensure that the ships' specifications followed our needs and requests.

"Based on the progress, I believe, we will be receiving the first LMS vessel by October 2019," he said.

Hishammuddin said this at a press conference after the naming and launch of Malaysia’s first LCS at the Boustead Naval Ship yard at the RMN base here today.

Malaysia’s first home built LCS has been named KD Maharaja Lela, in honour of the late Perak Chieftain and British resistance leader, Datuk Maharaja Lela.

The first of its kind ship under the Maharaja Lela Class was constructed at the Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd (BN Shipyard), a subsidiary of Boustead Holdings Berhad and an associate company of Boustead Heavy Industries Corporation Bhd (BHIC).

The LCS took one and half years to complete at the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) base here, after it’s keel was laid down in March of last year.

Raja Permaisuri of Perak Tuanku Zara Salim launched the LCS, witnessed by Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah.

Meanwhile, BHIC Executive Deputy chairman and managing director Datuk Seri Ahmad Ramli Mohd Nor described the completion of the first LCS on schedule as being a momentous occasion as it was launched less than one and a half year since its keel-laying ceremony held last year.

"The achievement is a testament to the dedication, commitment and hard work of the staff of BHIC and BN Shipyard and the navy, proving that Malaysians can undertake a project of such complexity and magnitude.

"The LCS entering the water for the first time is a highly significant moment in shipbuilding. We have gone through a long, complex and challenging journey to reach this point," he added.

Ramli said BNS was privileged with the opportunity given by the government to build the LCS and contribute towards enhancing the country's maritime defence.

“As we build the rest of the vessels, we will continue to maintain our pace, while upholding our commitment to provide outstanding service in pursuit of our shared goal to see Malaysia achieve self-resilience in maritime defence," he added.

Also present was Armed Forces chief General Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor, RMN chief Admiral Tan Sri Ahmad Kamarulzaman Ahmad Badaruddin and Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir.

With a contract value of RM9 billion, each of the LCS is equipped with warfare capabilities for electronic, air, surface and underwater threats, integrated with state-of-the-art systems.

The ships are based on an enlarged version of the Gowind-class corvette, designed by DCNS of France.

A distinctive feature of the LCS is its stealth capability.

Tuanku Zara Launches RMN's First Littoral Combat Ship

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LUMUT, Aug 24 -- The newly built KD Maharaja Lela, the first of six littoral combat ships (LCS) of the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN), was launched by Raja Permaisuri Perak, Tuanku Zara Salim at the RMN base, here, today.

The naming of the ship and launching ceremony was also graced by the presence of the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah.

The royal couple and invited dignitaries present including Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir and Boustead Heavy Industries Corporation Bhd (BHIC) managing director Tan Sri Ahmad Ramli Mohd Nor then watched KD Maharaja Lela sail out to sea for the first time.

The building of the six LCS is by Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd (BN Shipyard), a subsidiary company of (BHIC) at a cost of RM9 billion.

The LCS has a four-dimensional combat capacity with the durability to overcome electronic, water and air threats, besides having the latest combat management system.

The ship, 111 metres long, has a maximum speed of 28 knots and is equipped with torpedo launchers, anti-surface and anti-air missile launching systems and medium-calibre cannons, among other devices, to boost security control over the country’s waters.

Hishammuddin said the name Maharaja Lela for the combat ship took after the name of renowned Malay warrior Dato' Maharaja Lela (a territorial chieftain and penghulu in Pasir Salak) who led the Malays in the fight against British colonial rule in Perak (in the 1870’s).

He said the building of this first LCS for the RMN showed the capability and competitiveness of local manpower in the heavy industry sector, specifically military technology.

"This is because it is the first LCS of frigate class fully built by a local company, Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd,” he added.

Ahmad Ramli, meanwhile, said this was the biggest combat ship in the RMN fleet with its stealth shape and difficult to detect by radar.

He said the ship would be officially handed over to RMN in April 2019 after undergoing tests at the dockyard and sea, as well as firing tests.

-- BERNAMA

Published on Thursday, 24 August 2017 16:41

Dry Launch for LCS

Marhalim Abas August 23, 2017 

LUMUT: Dry launch for LCS. RMN’s first of class LCS 1 is all set for her launch and naming ceremony, tomorrow (Aug 24, 2017). The ship will be launched and named by Raja Permaisuri Perak Tuanku Zara Salim at the Boustead Naval Shipyard, here.

The ceremony is not expected to be like the US Navy Freedom class LCS which will be launched sideways into the waterways adjacent to the shipyard. The two RMN training ships, Gagah and Teguh Samudera were named and launched stern first in 2012 and 2013, respectively but both have yet to be commissioned into service.

Maharaja Lela sitting on a platform, was lowered just shy off the waters of the dockyard. She got wet somewhat courtesy of some fire hoses.

The ship will now be moved back across the shipyard for more work on her to be completed. Her harbour trials are expected later this year.

As noted by Api69, I did not see the propellers under the stern. However this does not mean she is being rushed for launching.

I believed the ceremony tomorrow is being held as the RMN cannot expect not to have pictures of the ship being widely circulated as the location of the shipyard straddled a regular and popular ferry transit point.

Come to think of it, Naval Group – the new name for DCNS – never published pictures of the Egyptian Gowind being put into water or any other ships that the shipyard build.

This is an updated version of the original post.

-Malaysian Defence