Lekiu-class frigate
{{Short description|Malaysian Navy frigate class}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2016}}
| {{Infobox ship begin
| infobox caption = }} {{Infobox ship image | Ship image = KD Lekiu(FFG30) and KD Jebat(FFG29) with USS George Washington (CVN 73).jpeg | Ship caption = KD Lekiu (FFG30) and KD Jebat (FFG29) with {{USS|George Washington|CVN-73|6}} }} {{Infobox ship class overview | Name = Lekiu class | Builders = Yarrow Shipbuilders, Glasgow, UK | Operators = {{navy|Malaysia}} | Class before = *{{ship|KD|Rahmat}}
| Class after = Maharaja Lela class | Subclasses = | Cost = | Built range = | In service range = | In commission range = | Succeeded by = {{sclass|Maharaja Lela|Frigate}} | Total ships building = | Total ships planned = | Total ships completed = 2 | Total ships cancelled = | Total ships active = 2 | Total ships laid up = | Total ships lost = | Total ships retired = | Total ships preserved = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship class = F2000 frigate | Ship type = | Ship tonnage = | Ship displacement = 2,300 tons full load | Ship length = {{convert|106|m|abbr=on}} | Ship beam = {{convert|12.75|m|abbr=on}} | Ship height = | Ship draught = {{convert|3.08|m|abbr=on}} | Ship draft = | Ship depth = | Ship hold depth = | Ship decks = | Ship deck clearance = | Ship ramps = | Ship ice class = | Ship power = | Ship propulsion = 4 × MTU 20V 1163 TB93 diesel engines, 24.5MW, twin shafts with Kamewa controllable pitch propellers | Ship sail plan = | Ship speed = {{convert|28|kn}} | Ship range = {{convert|5000|nmi|abbr=on}} | Ship endurance = | Ship test depth = | Ship boats = | Ship capacity = | Ship troops = | Ship complement = 146 with 18 officers | Ship crew = | Ship time to activate = | Ship sensors = *Combat system: BAE Systems Insyte Nautis F combat data system
| Ship EW = *ESM: BAE Mentor-A
| Ship armament = *Guns: 1 × Bofors 57 mm gun
| Ship armour = | Ship armor = | Ship aircraft = 1 × Super Lynx 300 | Ship aircraft facilities = *Stern hangar
| Ship notes = }} |
The Lekiu-class frigates are a class of frigates of the Royal Malaysian Navy. They are the largest and most modern surface combatants of the Royal Malaysian Navy, until the Maharaja Lela-class frigates are completed. The class comprises two vessels, {{ship|KD|Jebat}} and KD Lekiu. The class is named after the second ship of the class which was launched before Jebat.
The two ships of the class are named after Hang Lekiu and Hang Jebat, two figures from the Malay 15th-century epic narrative Hikayat Hang Tuah. They share this characteristic with the two {{sclass|Kasturi|corvette}}s, KD Kasturi and KD Lekir, as well as the old frigate-turned-training ship {{ship|KD|Hang Tuah}}, all of which are named after figures from the epic as well.
Development
The ships were built in the United Kingdom by Yarrow Shipbuilders of Glasgow (now BAE Systems Surface Ships) from the company's standard F2000 frigate design. Lekiu was launched in December 1994 while the Jebat was launched in May 1995. Jebat carries the lower pennant number (FFG29) 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 and an offset 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. The ships were commissioned in March and May 1999. The ships represented a huge jump in capability compared to the frigates then operated by the Royal Malaysian Navy, {{ship|KD|Rahmat}} and {{ship|KD|Hang Tuah}} (ex-HMS Mermaid).
Both Jebat and Lekiu serve in the 23 Frigate Squadron of the Royal Malaysian Navy.{{cite web |url=http://navy.mod.gov.my/sitecont/option-com_content/task-view/id-105/Itemid-204/lang-en/ |title=Title unknown}}{{dead link|date=September 2014}}
Delays
The Lekiu class faced serious delays due to difficulties in the systems integration of the weapons and weapons control system (i.e., software problems). These problems were overcome and the delivery and commissioning of the two ships was completed on 7 October and 10 November 1999.
Plans for further ships
Malaysian Minister of Defence Najib Tun Razak announced at the 2006 Farnborough Air Show that Malaysia would be buying two frigates from the United Kingdom under Project Brave.{{cite news|url=http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/7/18/nation/14868160&sec=nation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070313140934/http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2006%2F7%2F18%2Fnation%2F14868160&sec=nation |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 March 2007 |title=Government wants to buy British frigates and Italian planes |newspaper=The Star |date=18 July 2006 }} The Evening Times reported on 20 July 2006 that the Clyde shipyard has won a contract to build two Lekiu class-frigates for Malaysia.{{cite news |url=http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/hi/news/5054909.html |newspaper=Evening Times |title=Title unknown |date=20 July 2006}}{{dead link|date=September 2014}}{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/glasgow_and_west/5193656.stm |title=Shipyards win Malaysian contract |work=BBC |date=19 July 2006}}
The two ships were to have been completed at Labuan Shipyard and Engineering as a condition of the deal but were cancelled in August 2009. In 2013, Malaysia announced the purchasing of Maharaja Lela-class frigates and the Lekiu class batch 2 is presumed to be cancelled.
Service Life Extension Program (SLEP)
A limited service life extension program started in 2015. Upgrades include Thales Vigile 100 Mk2 ESM replacing the BAE Mentor A, Chess Dynamics Sea Eagle FCEO replacing the BAE Type V 3001 and Terma Scanter 6000 navigation radar.{{Cite web|url=https://www.terma.com/press/news-2016/royal-malaysian-navy-selects-terma-scanter-radar-for-lekiu-class-frigates/|title=Royal Malaysian Navy selects Terma|website=www.terma.com|access-date=2016-12-20|archive-date=21 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221092317/https://www.terma.com/press/news-2016/royal-malaysian-navy-selects-terma-scanter-radar-for-lekiu-class-frigates/|url-status=dead}}
In January 2025, it is confirmed that Malaysia planned to upgrade Lekiu class with Naval Strike Missile as its new anti-ship missile.{{cite web|url=https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/weapons/malaysia-to-incorporate-anti-surface-missile-on-lekiu-class-frigate|title=Janes - Malaysia to incorporate anti-surface missile on Lekiu-class frigate}}
Major operation
KD Lekiu together with KD Sri Inderapura involved in Ops Fajar 4 mission/Anti-piracy measures in Somalia by Royal Malaysian navy in Gulf of Aden in 2008. Both ships were tasked to return two hijacked Malaysian International Shipping Corporation (MISC) shipping vessels MT Bunga Melati Dua and MT Bunga Melati Lima to Malaysia.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2008/10/21/ops-fajar-mission-accomplished/|title=Ops Fajar Mission Accomplished|website=thestar.com}}
In 2013 KD Jebat was involved in a naval blockade in 2013 Lahad Datu standoff.
In 2014, KD Lekiu involved in MH370's Search and Rescue Operation in the South Indian Ocean for several months.
In 2018, KD Lekiu participated in the world's largest maritime exercise RIMPAC.{{Cite web|url=https://thediplomat.com/2018/04/a-first-malaysia-to-deploy-warship-for-rimpac-2018/|title = A First: Malaysia to Deploy Warship for RIMPAC 2018}}
Ships of the class
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col" | Pennant
! scope="col" | Name ! scope="col" | Builders ! scope="col" | Launched ! scope="col" | Commissioned ! scope="col" | Division/Squadron ! scope="col" | Notes |
|---|
| scope="row" | FFG29
| KD Jebat | rowspan="2" | Yarrow Shipbuilders | May 1995 | March 1999 | 23rd Frigate Squadron | |
| scope="row" | FFG30
| KD Lekiu | December 1994 | May 1999 | 23rd Frigate Squadron | |
Gallery
File:RAN-IFR 2013 D3 143.JPG|KD Jebat moored in Sydney Harbour in October 2013.
File:KD Lekiu (FFGH 30) passes by the fast-attack submarine USS La Jolla (SSN 701) during a submarine warfare exercise.jpeg|KD Lekiu passes by the US Navy submarine {{USS|La Jolla|SSN-701|6}} during a submarine warfare exercise at CARAT 2011.
File:KD Jebat (FFG 29) at CARAT 2013.jpeg|KD Jebat underway off the coast of Malaysia during a divisional tactics drill as part of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Malaysia 2013.
File:USS Freedom participates in Carat 2013. (9135089157).jpg|A rigid-hull inflatable boat from the LCS {{USS|Freedom|LCS-1|6}} takes a visit, board, search and seizure team to the Malaysian frigate KD Jebat during a compliant boarding exercise.
File:RAN-IFR_2013_D2_30.JPG|KD Jebat entering Sydney harbour for the Sydney International Fleet Review 2013.
File:Malaysia KD Lekiu (30) during Milan 2018 exercise.jpg|KD Lekiu during Milan 2018 exercise hosted by Indian Navy.
File:KD Lekiu night at the naval port.jpg|KD Lekiu docked at RMN Lumut Naval Base at night.
See also
- {{sclass|Nakhoda Ragam|corvette}} – Three other F2000-derived ships ordered for the Royal Brunei Navy but purchased by the Indonesian Navy.
- List of naval ship classes in service
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|Lekiu class frigate}}
- [http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/lekiu/ Lekiu Class, Malaysia(naval technology)]
- [http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/lekiu/lekiu2.html photograph of KD Lekiu]
- [http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/lekiu/lekiu5.html photograph of KD Lekiu]
- [http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/lekiu/lekiu1.html photograph of the Jebat at Yarrow Shipbuilders]
- [http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/lekiu/lekiu7.html another photograph of the Lekiu]
- [http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/lekiu/lekiu6.html navy rating manning the Nautis II Command system]
{{Royal Malaysian Navy Ships}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lekiu Class Frigate}}