SHAH ALAM: Fait accompli. It appears that the LCS delivery deadline has slipped again, and it is likely that the first LCS – PCU Maharaja Lela – is only expected to be in service with the RMN in 2026. Of course, this was expected as the revised delivery deadline of 2025 was made if the resumption of the project started in January 2022.
As it is the approval of the project was only made in April and according to the Chief of Defence Forces Gen Affendi Buang work on the Maharaja Lela started in September this year.
From Awani:
KUALA LUMPUR: Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia (TLDM) dijangka menerima dua buah kapal tempur pesisir (LCS) pada Januari dan September 2026.
Menurut Panglima Angkatan Tentera (PAT), Jeneral Tan Sri Affendi Buang, pembinaan kapal berkenaan telah berjalan pada awal September melibatkan subkontraktor tempatan dan peralatan dari pengilang peralatan asli (OEM).
“Kabinet pada April lalu telah membuat keputusan untuk meneruskan projek LCS ini kerana ia aset yang sangat diperlukan oleh tentera laut bagi memastikan kedaulatan, integriti wilayah dan kepentingan maritim negara sentiasa terpelihara.
Since they have yet to announce the agreement with the OEMs, I am guessing that the work being done are only preparation for full resumption of the project.
From Awani:
“Berdasarkan perancangan, kapal pertama dijangka diserahkan kepada Tentera Laut pada Januari 2026, kapal kedua pada September 2026, kapal ketiga pada Mei 2027, kapal keempat pada Januari 2028 dan kapal kelima pada September 2028,” jelasnya memetik Sinar Harian.
Mengulas lanjut bagi memastikan kedaulatan maritim negara terus diperkasa, tambah Affendi, ATM turut mendaftarkan projek perolehan kapal misi pesisir (LMS) dalam Rolling Plan Ketiga Rancangan Malaysia ke-12 (RMK12) bagi tahun 2023.
Tambahnya, perolehan LMS kelompok kedua ketika ini masih dalam peringkat menunggu kelulusan pelaksanaan projek daripada kerajaan dan ia dikategorikan sebagai projek kritikal dan perlu diberi keutamaan tinggi.
Malah tambah Affendi, TLDM berpandangan perolehan baharu sebanyak lapan buah kapal LMS kelompok kedua perlu dilaksanakan seiring perolehan lima buah LCS dalam pembinaan.
Based on the above, we can surmise that all six ships will be completed – unlike what was revealed at the PAC report – which meant that the project cost will go higher above the ceiling price of RM9 billion. By how much, is again unknown, as we had only paid for equipment for four hulls and that does not include all new costs not yet signed off by the government. And how much it will cost? No, one knows really.
With the government not allowing Boustead Naval Shipyard and its parent company, Boustead Heavy Industries Corporation Bhd (BHIC) to raise funds for the programme (sukuk or bond placements, to be paid by long term maintenance contract for the ships), I am guessing you and me (and our kids) will be paying for it.
This will also mean that it is unlikely the LMS Batch II could be funded during the current and next RMK. The cost of the LCS programme will also cast a pall on the other projects to be funded in this RMK and the next one. Including the FLIT-LCA, MPA, MALE UAS and other national interest projects.
It is scary, really, if one cast an eye over the national and world’s economic development.
— Malaysian Defence
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Things look bleak from here on out. Marhalim, are you actually plan to abandon ship?
Not related….but have all of you heard about the latest news regarding the Army and the Yavuz and Eva SPH? Is it true, Marhalim.
Yes I will write about it shortly
I’m both speechless and outraged at this news. All of these assets were supposed to be in our hands already ages ago, even if the ships were to be completed the damage has already been done, this country’s dignity has been tarnished severely by the powers that be, I can only hope severe divine retribution be brought upon them for this humiliation all for the sake of their greed.
On another note, that means we’ll have to wait another 4 years before a single ship sets sail! What is MINDEF’s plan to boost the navy’s combat readiness?! Why are they obsessed on this golden goose of a project when we barely have enough warships to fight with? Next time I hear any news about the defence of this country it better be that the Kedah class has been given missiles to temporarily step in for the golden goose, otherwise we’re doomed, we can say goodbye to our EEZ. Bolehland never ceases to disappoint me…
I’m both speechless and outraged at this news. All of these assets were supposed to be in our hands already ages ago, even if the ships were to be completed the damage has already been done, this country’s dignity has been tarnished severely by the powers that be, I can only hope severe divine retribution be brought upon them for this humiliation all for the sake of their greed.
On another note, that means we’ll have to wait another 4 years before a single ship sets sail! What is MINDEF’s plan to boost the navy’s combat readiness?! Why are they obsessed on this golden goose of a project when we barely have enough warships to fight with? Next time I hear any news about the defence of this country it better be that the Kedah class has been given missiles to temporarily step in for the golden goose, otherwise we’re doomed, we can say goodbye to our EEZ. Bolehland never ceases to disappoint me…
I have been told that the Kedah class needs plenty of work to get any type of weapons upgrades
If the navy can spend so much to upgrade the Lekiu class and Kasturi Class, why the hesitancy to upgrade the Kedah Class? You can just upgrade maybe 2 of them for starters.
Even a Laksamana is being rehulled and repowered. What good is that?
Jason – “What is MINDEF’s plan to boost the navy’s combat readiness?”
MINDEF is merely a ministry run by bureaucrats; the politicians make the decisions and the bureaucrats implement them.
Jason – “for this humiliation all for the sake of their greed”
It’s the indifference, the lack of urgency; the short sightedness and the highly flawed defence policy. Not everything that goes belly up is a result of greed or corruption.
Jason – “it better be that the Kedah class has been given missiles to temporarily step in for the golden goose,”
Missiles on Kedahs are a self defence measure and doesn’t change the fact that the RMN is short of hulls for its peacetime operational taskings; never mind wartime ones.
Marhalimabas i just read about the contract given to BHIC Bofors for supply,maintenance and training for Bofors 57mm/L70. Is it for our our LCS?
@marhalimabas So do we have any chance to upgrade our Kedah Class or have other alternative solutions.
AFAIK it can be done,but at the same I know it will be very expensive
Those are spares for the guns already in service
The issue here is whether it’s worth it
Hassan -“If the navy can spend so much to upgrade the Lekiu class and Kasturi Class, why the hesitancy to upgrade the Kedah Class”
Simple answer. The Kasturis and Lekius are out principal combatants; had to be upgraded. The longstanding fear is that cash used for upgrading the Kedahs would be diverted from other areas and also note that the Kedahs have extremely limited space for anything beyond 4 ASMs and a non deck penetrating mount on the B position; intended for self defence.
Good! Only another 4 years to complete the ship that was completed 4 years ago. Bravo! Marvellous!
Ultimate very thick skin slumber rock tip top defence industry that we have. Wonder what wonders will pop up by 2030 when our local defence industries expected to be in full steam ahead.
lalok – “Ultimate very thick skin slumber rock tip top defence industry that we have”
Thank the politicians and their policies for that; they are the ones who allow various cockups to happen. Also thank them for having the inability learn from previous cockups and for continuing to treat defence as something way down on the list of priorities.
Should readers be surprised? Err nope.
I did say it would continue on and I did say at least the 5th unit which has started on the slipway will be done. There was never any question to me really.
The only ones with hanging questions are; the 6th unit which haven’t loaded onto slipway, when for the follow on LMS2, the MRSS, and LCS2. If they ever do materialise. In all likelihood the rehulling project would be more extensive to cater for more ships and keeping the legacy fleet in operation much longer than anticipated.