Latest Images of Malaysia’s Littoral Combat Ship 1 at Lumut Naval Shipyard
Several photos uploaded by the LUNAS Facebook account showed the progress of at least one of the LCS vessels (likely LCS1 "Maharaja Lela") at the shipyard.
(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – A few days ago, the Lumut Naval Shipyard (LUNAS) Facebook account posted about a working visit by the National Budget Office, led by its director, Datuk Shahrol Anuwar Sarman.
The visit to LUNAS was also attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Economy, and the Attorney General’s Chambers.
LUNAS CEO, Ir Azhar Jumaat, was present to welcome the delegation.
They were given a detailed briefing on the progress of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) project by LCS Project Director, Captain (Rtd) Rosnizam Che Puteh, and LCS Project Director General, Rear Admiral Ir. Ts Franklin Jeyasekhar Joseph.
Both provided in-depth insights into the technical aspects and phases of the LCS project, outlining the milestones, challenges, and technological advancements implemented on the vessels.
The delegation was also given a tour of the LCS ships under construction, allowing them to observe the building process, systems, and advanced features of the warships firsthand.
Several photos uploaded by the LUNAS Facebook account showed the progress of at least one of the LCS vessels (likely LCS1 “Maharaja Lela”) at the shipyard.
On May 23, the first Maharaja Lela-class LCS vessel, LCS1, owned by the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN), was successfully launched (downslipped) into the water.
Following its successful launch, the first LCS vessel, named “Maharaja Lela,” will undergo Harbour Acceptance Tests (HAT) and Sea Acceptance Tests (SAT), starting later this year.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin stated that the first LCS vessel, “Maharaja Lela,” is expected to be delivered to the RMN in August 2026, after the completion of the HAT and SAT processes.
To date, the construction of LCS1 “Maharaja Lela” is progressing according to schedule, with its launch into the water last month proceeding as planned.
The construction of the remaining four LCS vessels is also moving ahead smoothly and in line with the set timeline.
The five RMN LCS ships are valued at RM11.2 billion.
When completed, the RMN Maharaja Lela-class LCS will be 111 meters long, manned by around 118 crew members, from officers to enlisted personnel.
With CODAD (Combined Diesel and Diesel) propulsion, the RMN LCS vessels will have a top speed of over 28 knots and an operational range of up to 5,000 nautical miles (at 15 knots).
These LCS ships will enable the RMN to operate farther and for longer durations. — DSA
