Trial run for first littoral combat ship in 2018
LUMUT: KD Maharaja Lela, the country’s first littoral combat ship, is expected to be ready for sailing trials next year before its handing over to the navy in 2019.
Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd managing director Tan Sri Ahmad Ramli Mohd Nor said this was to ensure the vessel was in the best condition.
“The vessel is 75% completed. We are installing the combat system, which is quite difficult to do, in Cyberjaya, as well as carrying out in-house installation work.
“We want the vessel to be used during the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2019,” he told reporters after the foundation-laying ceremony for the third littoral combat ship at the Boustead Naval Shipyard by Defence Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Abdul Rahim Mohamad Radzi here yesterday.
On Aug 24, a ceremony was held for the naming of KD Maharaja Lela by Raja Permaisuri Perak Tuanku Zara Salim, and witnessed by Perak Ruler Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, at the naval base here.
Ahmad Ramli said the second lit- toral combat ship was expected to be ready for sailing trial in August next year while the third one would be ready in June 2019.
The navy had ordered six littoral combat ships costing RM9bil from BNS, a subsidiary of Boustead Holdings Berhad and its associate, Boustead Heavy Industries Corporation Bhd (BHIC). — Bernama