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THE Royal Malaysian Navy’s (RMN) maritime defence capability is set for a major boost through the procurement of five Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) and three Littoral Mission Ships (LMS), with delivery and construction timelines progressing as planned, Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari said.
He confirmed that the first LCS is expected to be delivered by August next year, while the LMS fleet is scheduled to be completed by 2027.
"The government remains committed to enhancing the navy’s capabilities by equipping it with new assets. We are also ensuring these ships are fitted with advanced technology to meet our defence needs," Bernama cited him telling reporters after officiating the launch of a digital studio at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) TUDM Subang today.
Adly was responding to a recent media report which highlighted the Royal Malaysian Navy’s operational limitations due to an ageing fleet of combat vessels.
He noted that the first LCS is currently undergoing port and sea trials. Meanwhile, the construction of the LMS vessels is underway, following the conclusion of a procurement agreement with Turkish defence firm Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik in June last year.
On a separate matter, Adly said the Ministry of Defence remains committed to digital transformation in education through its support of the Affin Digital Space initiative. The programme aims to enhance digital literacy in schools located within army camps.
The newly launched digital studio at SK TUDM Subang is the second of its kind, following the earlier rollout at SK KEMENTAH in Kuala Lumpur. The studio is fitted with green screen technology, enabling both teachers and pupils to engage in creative, media-based learning.
“The digital studios at these three schools are made possible through an RM94,000 contribution from Affin Bank. The ministry hopes to eventually expand the initiative to all 27 schools located in camps nationwide,” he added, noting that the next rollout is scheduled for June at SK Sir Sultan Ibrahim in Kluang, Johor.
Also present at the event were Affin Bank Berhad Group’s Chief Executive Officer of Community Banking, Mohammad Fairuz Mohd Radi, and SK TUDM Subang’s headmistress, Zatul Bazamah Abu Bakar. - May 2, 2025