KUALA LUMPUR: The Royal Malaysian Navy's (RMN) upcoming Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) helicopters will further enhance operational capabilities in maintaining the security and sovereignty of the country's waters.
Navy Chief Admiral Datuk Abdul Rahman Ayob said the new helicopters, which will replace the current fleet of the Super Lynx Mk100 helicopters, will enhance RMN Airwing capabilities in ASW.
"The assets will enable the enforcement patrols to be carried out together with existing assets to strengthen airspace surveillance in Malaysian waters," he said in a reply to the New Straits Times, in conjunction with the 89th Navy Day celebration.
Rahman said the Navy is currently exploring possibilities of leasing suitable helicopters as it starts to phase out the Super Lynx Mk100 in stages.
"That will be a gap filler while waiting for the new ASW helicopters project which is planned to be started in 2026," he said.
On existing equipment and assets, Rahman said the Navy is hopeful to see to the implementation of its fleet modernisation efforts as outlined in the 15 to 5 Transformation Plan.
"It is admittedly true that the RMN is currently equipped with a limited and ageing fleet. The main challenge faced by the Navy is operating obsolete capital assets.
"However, while waiting for the procurement of the new assets, the Obsolescence Management Programme is being implemented to extend the life or operational availability of our ships.
"Thus far, this program has helped us in improving the operational availability of our ageing fleet," he said, adding that about 61 per cent of assets are being operated beyond the standard shelf life or age limit that they are designed for.
When sharing the latest update on the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) project, Rahman said the first vessel is estimated to be in the water and ready for various trials in September 2024.
"There are a series of platform and combat system trials to be conducted which require approximately 22 months. Hence, the delivery of the first vessel is expected in July 2026."
The LCS project is the largest acquisition in the Defence Ministry's history, with an overall value of RM9 billion.
The contract began in 2013 and was projected to end in 10 years.
Based on the original schedule, five of the six LCS vessels should have been completed and handed over by August last year.
As for the Littoral Mission Ships (LMS), Rahman said the Navy is currently finalising the technical
specification that will be tendered out soon.
"Both LCS and LMS acquisitions are important. The procurement of these assets will help to address the challenges faced by the Navy in maintaining the sovereignty of our Malaysia Maritime Zone (MMZ).
"The government has allocated a budget for the LMS programme and we are currently finalising the technical specification that will be tendered out soon."
Meanwhile, sharing on the Navy's participation in the upcoming Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2023 (LIMA'23), scheduled to take place from May 23 to May 27, Rahman said a total of 17 RMN ships with 1,350 crews on board together with 400 ashore duty personnel will be involved in the exhibition.
"The Navy will be focusing its search for the potential state-of-the-art maritime warfare systems being exhibited during LIMA'23.
"Any deal signed during the exhibition will be announced later," he said, adding that to date a total of 13 foreign warships have confirmed their participation in the exhibition