SHAH ALAM: It appears that I was too hasty to state that the LMS Batch 2 will be fitted with a South Korean-made vertical launch system and surface-to-air missiles. Infact, the South Korean option is one of the proposals for the SAM system, being considered by the RMN.
The MBDA Sea Ceptor (Albatross) and VL MICA surface to air missiles, defence industry sources told Malaysian Defence, are also under consideration for three LMS Batch 2. Four Sea Ceptors can quad-packed on the VLS on the rear part of Batch 2 and four MICAs if selected. The MICA, if you recall, is the SAM for the LCS.
The three VLS and SAM options remained on the table as the negotiations for the LMS Batch 2 between RMN and STM shipyard has yet to be concluded.
The Letter of Award (contract) is only expected to be signed when Defence Minister DS Khaled Nordin officially visits Turkiye, next month. This depends on the conclusion of the negotiations between RMN and STM, of course.
For the record it is unclear whether the Letter of Intent (LOI) will be publicly awarded to STM at the contract signing ceremonies scheduled on the third (tomorrow) day of DSA 2024. The LOI for the LMS Batch 2 was awarded to STM in February this year.
The Malaysian variant will also differ from their Turkish one as they will be fitted with four diesel engines or the Combined Diesel and Diesel (CODAD) configuration, like the LCS. The Turkish Ada-class is fitted with two diesel engines and a gas turbine -combined diesel and gas (CODAG) configuration.
With the CODAD configuration, there is no need for RMN to procure extra gas turbines (Lockheed Martin LM2500 as used in the Turkish Ada-class) as reserves in case of faults.
— Malaysian Defence
If you like this post, buy me an espresso. Paypal Payment
View Comments (30)
To me, its better to makes the features of ada-class corvette (some if not many) as close as gowind-class lcs for the sake of commonality.
$ will be a big factor. Korean will be the top considerations.
How about SSM? What type of missile and how many launchers?
Its likely Atmaca and eight launchers.
Buy in bulk get cheaper price. If money & commonality is a factor then the most logical choice would be the MICA as it will also be installed on the LCS?
Yup
Ok so nothing is certain yet on the SAM front... yet.
But frankly speaking for RM 500mil or USD $105mil (after deduct the 'whatever fees') do you think its possible to have an ADA equipped as it were intended by TLDM?
And speaking of it, any indicators will these be built in Turk or the more politically palatable TOT build in Msia?
Both Pakistan and Ukraine ship have Havelsan Genesis as their CMS. If we also use Havelsan CMS, my guess is we will go with Sea ceptor/Mica for SAM
These are powerful ships. IMHO more frigate level than corvettes. They are even bigger than the current Lekius.
Marhalim, are the numbers still 3 + 5 as originally planned? Obviously the money has come from somewhere, so I wonder if it a Turkish loan at a low interest rate?
No loan.
The three ships will be built in Turkey
The South Korean option came from the left field and not from the service.
Marhalim, what do you make of the pakatan n
between Lunas and PT Pal ? A sign of things to come?
It has been done before in 2016/2018. I am wondering whether there will be funds for the MRSS even in the next RMK as they need to fund LCS and LMS Batch 2 first.