KUALA LUMPUR: This is the mock-up for the Jebat batch 2 Frigate. Although the final details have not been signed off yet, the real ship would probably end up like this mock-up. Basically the hul and superstructure remained the same as the previous ships. Only a few modifications were made, of course, those that cannot be seen will remained hidden, like the interior of the cabins and arrangement of the machineries.
On the outside, the Seawolf will be completed by Raytheon Evolved Sea-Sparrow Missile (ESSM) of which the Mk48 vertical launcher will be sandwiched between the British made system. Tne new ships will also get a new radar, the Thales SMART 3D. Unlike the old Jebat and Lekiu, the new ships will be fitted with a towed array or variable depth sonar to enhance its ASW capabilities.
The ships are expected to be built in Labuan, much to the fear of BAE Systems, which is the main reason, they have not finished their negotiations yet. The builder wants the risk factor contingency written to the contract, increasing its price which the Government is baulking.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (14)
Just curios and what will the lenght and tonnage of the Lekiu Batch 2 will be.
From the mock up it looks like 12 ESSM. Will the MM40 be the Block 3 version. Don't know why they are still sticking to the 30mm guns and instead should replace that with CIWS or even a RAM added to the ship.
It will be slightly longer than both the Jebat and Lekiu (from memory they are about 107metres) to accommodate the towed sonar and the displacement should not be more than 2500 tonnes. You are right about the ESSM but the new ships are also to be fitted with around six or 12 VL Seawolf missiles. On the why they are not changing to CIWS and RAM, its more of a tradition and for brown water usage. RMN cannot be using those things on illegal trawlers or things like that. From what I heard the 30mm gun are probably the most used weapon on RMN ships bar none.
Of course they could always used 50 caliber machine guns or sniper rifles for the same purpose but the RMN seemed to like 7.62mm machine guns more, so there.
Take note apart from the MSI guns, RMN also used Emerlec 30 mm guns. Ooops before I forget, they also have the 30mm Oto Melara on the Kedah class PVS. All of these guns are fired from the CIC, most of the time although during enforcement missions it is fired locally from the deck.
Having the 30mm is kind of over size for a illegal trawler and that function should be retain for the patrol boats. The frigate should be more for escorting large asset like the future LPD. Having CIWS will be the last point of defence against incoming missiles but nevertheless good to know they are retaining the seawolf.
By the way will the ESSM be group together with the Seawolf or on a different section of the boat. Looking at the mock-up... not too sure if all can be place just behind the 57mm.
90 per cent of RMN duties are against illegal trawlers and such so the guns remain an essential part of the SOP. Patrol boats dont intimidate illegal trawlers anymore so a frigate or a corvette with big guns and bigger bullets are the sea equivalent of "Speak Softly but Carry A Big Stick!" As for the LPD it will be of the case for future.
The missile launchers will be grouped together behind the 57mm gun. I believe the arrangement would be a six pack ESSM launcher on left and right and a six or eight silos for the Seawolf in the middle.
The Batch 2s are to be equipped with a Rayheon MK56 VLS which is unable to accommodate a Seawolf missile. Besides, it wouldn't make any sense to equip the Batch 2s with both the ESSM and Seawolf. With the MK41 VLS it would be possible to fit bot ESSM and Standards but I'm not sure about the MK56 VLS. If the Seawolf VLS was modular it would be possible to install ESSM on the Lekiu and Jebat and fit the Seawolf VLS on the NGOPVs but unfortunatly its not possible due to it being non-modular. I'm hoping the hangar will have a bit more space making it easier to perform maintanance on the Super Lynxs. In a perfect world, the Batch 2s would also be equipped with a RAM or Phalanx, but apart from the extra cost and redesigning of the ship, our threat enviroment doesn't make it an urgency. [I could be wrong, perhaps the RMN specified a CIWS but were told the money wasn't available] Only the Jap Kongos, Joreans KD 3s and German Sachsens have a RAM not even the Type 45s and the Dutch 7 Provinciens. Interesting enough, despite having a much bigger budget and more allowance to choose what the want, the RSN hasn't equipped their Deltas with a CIWs, prefering to rely solely on the Aster and a soft kill option. But I suppose having a Phalanx or RAM becomes irrelevant due to the fact that both can tackle a high speed target like the Klub, Moskit or Brahmos.
On the ESSM and Seawolf combo, It does not make sense to me also but when somebody with gold braids told me it is so, I keep my mouth shut long enough to ask another question! I believe as the saying goes the customer is always right. To me it would be better if only one missile system was selected -- to me its obviously the Aster 30 but the MBDA rep told me they need a ship with at least 5000 tonnage to fit the Sylver launcher.
Whether or not it will work (the ESSM and Seawolf combo ) of course is yet to be proven. I am not concerned about the modularity but a sense of dejavu. Back when they were commissioning the Jebat and Lekiu, they had so much trouble integrating the Seawolf with the NAutics CIC system that it took almost eight years to deliver the ships. That is one reason, I have stated publicly that I will wager RM50 that the first ship will only be commissioned in 2015 instead of the announced 2012 deadline announced by MINDEF.
Anyway it is still a mock-up so they could always change the design before the contract is signed.
On the RAM, it is supposed to be fitted but not equipped on the PVs, but since I have not seen any notice on the sale of such a system to Malaysia either via FMS or commercial sales, I doubt it is had been even tested on the two delivered PVs.
As far as integration delays go, lets hope history doesn't repeat itself as the RMN will be the launch custome for the CMS-1 combat management system on the Batch 2s. Malaysia already has a history of paying an arm and leg for integration. Thales was paid about $US60 million to be systems integrator for the MKMs. It would have smarter to go for the Super Hornet as all integration work has already been done and paid for by Uncle Sam, plus we would have got a platform and a range of air and ground ordnance that has actually been combat tested numerous times. If GAPU does end up with the Chinese KSH-1 or Buk-1M, costly integration to our present air network will also have to be done. Does anyone know if a successful Sea Skua launch has been carried out?
I am veering off tangent, but since "F" mentioned about KS-1 and Buk M1, I am inclined to ask about GOM's interest in the missile system.
That I know, Buk M1-2 has not had much success in terms of sales, internationally. I understand that the GOM wants to begin to have a medium range SAM complex, but out of curiosity what is stopping GOM to purchase long range SAM complex like S-300 or the S-400 and bypass the need to have medium range SAMs ? Even Vietnam bought 2 battieries of S-300.
There is a long list of customers having S-300 in their arsenal. Apart from Russia, I dont know any country deploying Buk M1.
The other thing I am curious about is why does GOM source surface warships from UK alone ? We bought fighters from Russia, why is it that the Navy never even consider Russia as a source for our surface or sub surface fleet ?
The Jan Tempur mentions Aster 15 as the missile system but everywhere else says ESSM. Which is it? I thought Aster was too expensive. And why do we need to be the guinea pig for the Type 45 CMS? Can'w we just stick with the NAUTIS?