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PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim paid a working visit to the Lumut Naval Shipyard (LUNAS) at the Royal Malaysian Navy (TLDM) base in Lumut today to review the progress of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) project.
Accompanied by Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari and Chief of Defence Forces General Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar, the Prime Minister was briefed on the status of the five LCS vessels currently under construction for TLDM.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Defence, the overall progress of the project had reached 72.43 per cent as of 25 May.
Bernama cited the ministry adding that strict monitoring involving key stakeholders including the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Economy, Implementation Coordination Unit of the Prime Minister's Department, and the Attorney General’s Chambers is ongoing to ensure proactive intervention measures are implemented by LUNAS to keep the project on schedule.
The ministry confirmed that the first vessel, LCS1, was successfully downslipped into the water on 23 May, in accordance with the contractual schedule.
“LCS1 has entered the setting-to-work (STW) phase as of May 2025 and is scheduled to undergo its first sea sailing in December this year,” the statement said.
LCS2, which was launched into the water on 8 May, is continuing with construction and is expected to begin STW activities by September.
Construction of LCS3 through LCS5 is reportedly proceeding according to plan, with LCS3 expected to be delivered to the Royal Malaysian Navy in 2027. Each subsequent vessel will follow at intervals of eight months, with LCS5 scheduled for completion in 2029. - June 15, 2025