Lekiu Class Frigates
Encyclopedia
The Lekiu class frigates are presently the most modern major assets of the Royal Malaysian Navy
. The class comprised two vessels, F29 KD Jebat and F30 KD Lekiu. The class is named after the second ship of the class which was launched earlier than the Jebat.
The ships were built in the UK by Yarrow Shipbuilders
of Glasgow
(now BAE Systems Surface Ships) from the company's standard F2000 light frigate design. The Lekiu was launched in December 1994 while the Jebat was launched in May 1995. The Jebat carries the lower pennant number (F 29) to signify the seniority of this ship, which accommodates the Admiral of the Royal Malaysian Navy. (Hang Jebat
succeeded Hang Tuah
as Laksamana (Admiral) during the Melaka Sultanate, while Hang Lekiu was never made a Laksamana.)
The purchase of the two ships of the Lekiu class involved a major Transfer of Technology programme as well as an off set programme where some portion of the contract value would involve purchases and services contracted to Malaysian companies.
Delivery and operational status were delayed due to integration of combat systems problems. Both ships were commissioned in March and May 1999. The ships was a huge jump in capability compared to the frigates then operated by the Royal Malaysian Navy, the F24 KD Rahmat
and F76 KD Hang Tuah
(ex-HMS Mermaid).
Both F29 KD Jebat and F30 KD Lekiu serve in the 23 Frigate Squadron of the Royal Malaysian Navy
http://navy.mod.gov.my/sitecont/option-com_content/task-view/id-105/Itemid-204/lang-en/
announced at the 2006 Farnborough Air Show
that Malaysia would be buying two frigates from the United Kingdom under Project Brave. http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/7/18/nation/14868160&sec=nation The Evening Times reported on 20 July 2006 that the Clyde shipyard has won a contract to build two Jebat class warships for Malaysia. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/hi/news/5054909.html http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/glasgow_and_west/5193656.stm
The two ships were to have been completed at Sabah Shipyard as a condition of the deal, but were cancelled in August 2009.
awaiting a buyer.
Royal Malaysian Navy
The Royal Malaysian Navy is the naval arm of Malaysian Armed Forces. All commissioned ships of the RMN have the prefix KD , which means Royal Ship.-Straits Settlement Naval Volunteer Reserve:...
. The class comprised two vessels, F29 KD Jebat and F30 KD Lekiu. The class is named after the second ship of the class which was launched earlier than the Jebat.
The ships were built in the UK by Yarrow Shipbuilders
Yarrow Shipbuilders
Yarrow Limited , often styled as simply Yarrows, was a major shipbuilding firm based in the Scotstoun district of Glasgow on the River Clyde...
of Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
(now BAE Systems Surface Ships) from the company's standard F2000 light frigate design. The Lekiu was launched in December 1994 while the Jebat was launched in May 1995. The Jebat carries the lower pennant number (F 29) to signify the seniority of this ship, which accommodates the Admiral of the Royal Malaysian Navy. (Hang Jebat
Hang Jebat
Hang Jebat was the closest companion of the legendary malay hero Hang Tuah. He is well known for his vengeful rebellion against the Malacca Sultan whom he served. After Hang Tuah was sentenced to death, Hang Jebat was conferred by the Sultan of Malacca with the Taming Sari, a sacred kris formerly...
succeeded Hang Tuah
Hang Tuah
Hang Tuah is a legendary warrior/hero who lived during the reign of Sultan Mansur Shah of the Sultanate of Malacca in the 15th century. He was the greatest of all the laksamana, or sultan's admirals, and was known to be a ferocious fighter...
as Laksamana (Admiral) during the Melaka Sultanate, while Hang Lekiu was never made a Laksamana.)
The purchase of the two ships of the Lekiu class involved a major Transfer of Technology programme as well as an off set programme where some portion of the contract value would involve purchases and services contracted to Malaysian companies.
Delivery and operational status were delayed due to integration of combat systems problems. Both ships were commissioned in March and May 1999. The ships was a huge jump in capability compared to the frigates then operated by the Royal Malaysian Navy, the F24 KD Rahmat
KD Rahmat
The KD Rahmat was a frigate operated by the Royal Malaysian Navy.The ship was ordered in 1966 as the KD Hang Jebat. The design emphasised simplicity and economy but had an unusual machinery layout with a gas turbine and two diesels driving two propellers via a gearbox...
and F76 KD Hang Tuah
KD Hang Tuah
KD Hang Tuah is the second of the two frigates operated by Tentera Laut DiRaja Malaysia since the 1970s before the commissioning of newer ships Jebat, Lekiu, Kasturi and Lekir in the 1990s.- Construction:...
(ex-HMS Mermaid).
Both F29 KD Jebat and F30 KD Lekiu serve in the 23 Frigate Squadron of the Royal Malaysian Navy
Royal Malaysian Navy
The Royal Malaysian Navy is the naval arm of Malaysian Armed Forces. All commissioned ships of the RMN have the prefix KD , which means Royal Ship.-Straits Settlement Naval Volunteer Reserve:...
http://navy.mod.gov.my/sitecont/option-com_content/task-view/id-105/Itemid-204/lang-en/
Delays
The Lekiu class faced serious delays due to difficulties in the systems integrations of the weapons and weapons control system (i.e., software problems). These problems were eventually overcome and the delivery and commissioning of the two ships was completed in 7 October and 10 November 1999.Plans for further ships
Malaysian Minister of Defence Najib Tun RazakNajib Tun Razak
Dato' Sri Haji Mohd Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak is the sixth, and since 2009, Prime Minister of Malaysia. He previously held the post of Deputy Prime Minister from 7 January 2004 until he succeeded Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as Prime Minister on 3 April 2009. Najib is President of the United...
announced at the 2006 Farnborough Air Show
Farnborough Air Show
The Farnborough International Airshow is a seven-day international trade fair for the aerospace industry which is held in even-numbered years in mid-July at Farnborough Airfield in Hampshire, England....
that Malaysia would be buying two frigates from the United Kingdom under Project Brave. http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/7/18/nation/14868160&sec=nation The Evening Times reported on 20 July 2006 that the Clyde shipyard has won a contract to build two Jebat class warships for Malaysia. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/hi/news/5054909.html http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/glasgow_and_west/5193656.stm
The two ships were to have been completed at Sabah Shipyard as a condition of the deal, but were cancelled in August 2009.
Similar class
The three Nakhoda Ragam Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) ordered by Brunei were built from the same basic BAE F2000 design, though lighter and configured differently from the Lekius. Brunei refused to take delivery of the vessels of this class due to a dispute; although it was suggested Malaysia acquire the three, they remain laid up at Barrow-in-FurnessPort of Barrow
The Port of Barrow refers to the enclosed dock system within the town of Barrow-in-Furness, England. Morecambe Bay is to the east of the port and the Irish Sea surrounds it to the south and west...
awaiting a buyer.