The keel of the first vessel was laid onWe learned during LIMA 2017 that thewon't be installed aboard the vessel before its shore-based systems acceptance test set for June 2018 (eventough one of the recent pictures seem to show the mast in place). PSIM is a large module combining sensors, combat system, communications and operations stations. Last but not least, according to the RMN, the first LCS should be operational "around 2023".The second vessel's keel was just laid onand is set for a May 2018 launch. Mr Anuar confirmed that the construction and launch rate of the following vessels will increase exponentially.





Based on the Naval Group (ex-DCNS) Gowind 2500 corvette design (also selected by the Egyptian Navy), the Royal Malaysian Navy future LCS will be slightly larger and thus classified as frigates (with a length of 111 meters and a displacement of 3,100 tons).



The RMN frigates will differ quite a lot compared to the Egyptian Navy Gowind corvettes which may be considered as the "baseline configuration": Navy Recognition was the first one to reveal that the RMN selected Kongsberg's Naval Strike Missile (NSM)



For more details, check out our Royal Malaysian Navy LCS / SGPV Technical datasheet In early 2011, Malaysia launched the SGPV program with a budget of RM6 billion (US$1.9 billion) calling for six stealth frigates. Several foreign shipbuilders were bidding for the program. In late 2011, it was announced that the Gowind class design by DCNS had been chosen and that the SGPV program had been awarded to Boustead Naval Shipyard/DCNS.Based on the Naval Group (ex-DCNS) Gowind 2500 corvette design (also selected by the Egyptian Navy), the Royal Malaysian Navy future LCS will be slightly larger and thus classified as frigates (with a length of 111 meters and a displacement of 3,100 tons).The RMN frigates will differ quite a lot compared to the Egyptian Navy Gowind corvettes which may be considered as the "baseline configuration": Navy Recognition was the first one tofor its LCS. This was two years ago during LIMA 2015. The main gun will be a 57mm by BAE Systems Bofors in a stealth cupola similar to the Visby-class stealth corvettes of the Swedish Navy. (In comparison, the Egyptian corvettes will be fitted with MBDA's Exocet anti-ship missiles and 76mm main gun from Leonardo.) The radar will be a SMART-S Mk2 by Thales while the fire control and optronics will be Rheinmetall products. The vessels will be fitted with integrated communications systems by Rhode and Schwarz.For more details, check out our