Procurement of LMS batch 2 due to continuous Chinese vessel's intrusion

 

The navy’s decision to procure larger and more capable littoral mission ships (LMS) batch 2 is driven by the need to counter China’s persistent encroachment into Malaysian maritime zones, Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin said.

In a written parliamentary reply on Feb 27, Khaled stated that the procurement has been categorised as “critical” and is the navy’s topmost priority.

He attributed the higher specifications and combat capabilities of these new vessels, compared to the first LMS batch, to multiple factors.

The primary reason, according to the minister, is the continuous escalation of threats, particularly to Malaysia’s strategic maritime interests in Sabah and Sarawak.

Over the past eight years, there has been a significant surge in the presence of foreign warships following the exploration incident in Sarawak waters.

“Chinese Coast Guard vessels continuously intrude into Malaysian maritime zone waters, while the number of navy ships deployed is disproportionate to the number of intrusions.

“This undermines our navy’s capability to defend the country’s sovereignty during maritime operations,” Khaled said.

Another key factor cited was the necessity to bridge capability gaps within the existing naval fleet.

Bridging capability gaps

While the western fleet comprises combat ships, patrol vessels, logistics support ships and helicopters, the eastern fleet in Sabah and Sarawak lacks surface warfare capabilities.

“Ships in the eastern fleet are limited to patrol duties without three-dimensional warfare capabilities, namely anti-surface, anti-air and anti-submarine," the minister said as he underscored the need for combat-capable LMS batch 2 to strengthen the navy's deterrence posture in East Malaysian waters.

Previously, the New Straits Times reported former defence minister Mohamad Hasan as saying the procurement of LMS batch 2 will be government-to-government basis.

The Rembau MP told Dewan Rakyat that the government had opened a tender in which nine prospective companies had placed their bid for the design of the navy vessels.

Previously, it was reported that Malaysia had procured four LMS ships from China, dubbed the Keris-class, according to the NST.

However, these existing ships are perceived as lacking the requisite combat capabilities, as they are only lightly armed and equipped, the report said.

The Keris class reportedly displaces 700 tonnes and is armed with a 30mm autocannon and two machine guns.

In contrast, Defence Security Asia reported in November last year that Malaysia is considering a number of Turkish corvette designs.

These weigh in at 2,400 tonnes and are armed with larger guns, alongside launchers for anti-ship and anti-air missiles as well as torpedo launchers that enable them to engage a variety of targets from afar and fend off incoming missiles.

The navy had stressed the urgency of the LMS Batch 2 procurement in 2022, citing widening capability gaps in its fleet and that 61 percent of its assets were operating beyond the expected service life and were in obsolescence. - Mkini