OSI to support of Royal Malaysian Navy’s LCS programme

OSI Maritime Systems (OSI) has been awarded a contract by Boustead Naval Shipyard (BNS) to deliver integrated navigation and tactical systems (INTS) for the Royal Malaysian Navy's Gowind-class corvettes.

Gowind class Littoral Combat Ship (image : DCNS)

BNS was selected by the Royal Malaysian Navy previously to build six Gowind-class corvettes under the littoral combat ship (LCS) programme.

OSI integrated navigation and tactical systems (all photos : OSI)

Under the most recent contract, OSI will supply six INTS, in addition to electronic chart precise integrated system (ECPINS) warship (W) and Warship-AIS (W-ASI), which has been designed specifically for naval operations.

The INTS is a fully scalable tactical navigation solution and has been designed to meet the requirements of the most demanding military environments from vessels to large offshore ships.
NATO STANAG 4564-type approved software designed for the military user, ECPINS-W Sub will allow warships to operate in the most difficult conditions, while W-AIS provides enhanced situational awareness for the crew.

DCNS-built ocean-capable Gowind-class corvettes can be used to conduct emerging missions such as anti-piracy, sea control and denial, combat, counter-terrorism, drug interdiction and anti-smuggling operations, oil and gas platform protection, search-and-rescue, fisheries protection, environmental protection and humanitarian support.

Capable of providing sea-keeping capability, the corvettes are armed with 12.7mm remotely controlled machine guns, 20mm machine gun, 76mm naval gun on the forward gun deck, anti-ship missiles, ship self-defence system and electronic warfare suite.

The vessel provides 360° panoramic surveillance and Special Forces operations capabilities such as a quick-launch and recovery stern-launch system for two rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) or unmanned surface vehicles (USVs).

Fitted with automatic decking to enable safe operation of a helicopter and USV, the ship is equipped with multi-function radar and can accommodate maximum of crew 75 and has endurance of two to three weeks on patrol missions between at-sea replenishment.

Naval Technology

Russia Offers Upgrade Package for RMAF's MiG-29Ns

PARIS: RUSSIA'S official arms sales agency has offered an upgrade package for the Royal Malaysian Air Force's 18-year-old MiG-29N Fulcrum jet-fighters.

A Royal Malaysian Air Force MiG-29N. The popular aircraft is one of the most advanced jet-fighters in the Russian Air Force.

Rosoboronexport's upgrade package will extend the aircraft's lifespan by 40 years.

Sources said Rosoboronexport believed this to be a better option than the Malaysian government's plan to replace the Fulcrums in its multi-role combat aircraft (MRCA) replacement programme due to lower costs involved in an upgrade package compared with purchasing new aircraft.

However, the sources said cost was not the only factor which needed to be evaluated.

"There are a number of other things which need to be factored in. For instance, there are many things which need to be upgraded on the MiG-29s to ensure that the aircraft are on par, or at least as close as possible, with newer aircraft.

"Maintenance costs will also have to be factored in. So, yes, while an upgrade will allow us to keep an aircraft which is loved by the pilots who fly them, there are still many factors which need to be considered," said the source.

But Rosoboronexport deputy chief Victor Komardin told Paris Airshow News, published by AIN Publications, that if the upgrade package is rejected, Russia would want to be involved in RMAF's MRCA replacement programme.

To this end, Russia would offer additional Sukhoi SU-30MKM Flanker aircraft, currently the most advanced jets that RMAF operates.

Komardin also said Russia would also consider a request for a fifth-generation fighter, should the Malaysian government be interested in one.

This would mean that the Sukhoi PAK FA or the more advanced version of the Flanker, the SU-35.

Although the PAK FA is generally considered by the world as the only fifth-generation fighter in Russia, Sukhoi also considers the SU-35 a fifth-generation jet-fighter.

The PAK FA, however, is still in development, one of only a handful of stealth jet programmes in the world.

Though it is no secret that Malaysia intends eventually to replace the Fulcrums, the MRCA replacement programme had to be put on the backburner.

At present, without the entry of Russia, four aircraft are said to be in contention for the MRCA programme.

Saab's Gripen and Boeing's F/A-18E/F Super Hornet are two of the aircrafts said to be in the running, though not much is known of the other two companies.

The Eurofighter Typhoon and Dassault Aviation's Rafale, on the other hand, have been keenly vying for the programme, with Dassault Aviation and Rafale International chief executive Eric Trappier firing the latest salvo last week, ahead of the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget.

Trappier had said that any bid for the MRCA replacement programme would include an offer to set up an assembly line for Rafale in Malaysia.

At present, however, there is still no official call for a tender from the Malaysian government.

NST

Bespoke French Frigates For Malaysia

May 4, 2013: A year ago Malaysia ordered six Gowind corvettes from France. As part of the deal the French builder agreed to set up production in Malaysia and to modify the Gowind design to meet Malaysian requirements. Because of this arrangement the first Gowind will not enter service until 2019, two years later than if they were built in France. Malaysia is using this deal to develop its own warship building capability.

Gowind corvettes

The Malaysian Gowinds were originally to be 2,400 ton corvettes, but the Malaysian modifications have increased them to 3,000 ton frigates with a crew of 106. The Malaysian Gowinds are still armed with a 57mm gun, anti-aircraft missiles, anti-submarine torpedoes, and an EC-275 helicopter. It has a top speed of 48 kilometers an hour. Some of the modifications made include the turret for the 57mm gun being modified to maintain its low-radar visibility aspect in the expanded superstructure. Design modifications like this were part of the basic Gowind design, which can be applied to ships using the basic Gowind design but varying from 1,100-4,000 tons displacement. These ships have a maximum endurance (assuming mostly using cruise speed) of 21 days.

With the Malaysian sales, French warship builder DCNS has won its first export customer for the new Gowind concept. Malaysia is buying the Gowinds for about $500 million each. DCNS has had a very difficult time finding any export customers for Gowind. The French Navy wasn't buying either. So three years ago DCNS began building one of the 1,100 ton OPV Gowinds with its own money and persuaded the French Navy to provide a crew to operate the ship for 18-36 months. Thus, DCNS could pitch potential customers with the fact that at least one Gowind has been built and successfully served with the French Navy. This worked for Malaysia, as did the willingness to move construction (and assembly of some of the electronic subsystems) to Malaysia. France is supplying eight Exocet anti-ship missiles for each Gowind, along with quad launchers of VL-MICA anti-aircraft missiles (with a range of 20 kilometers) and two 30mm anti-missile autocannon.

Strategy Page

Royal Malaysian Navy Gowind class Corvettes for LCS program to be fitted with stealth 57mm Guns

At the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace exhibition 2013, Navy Recognition exclusively learned that the 6 future Gowind class Corvettes (Littoral Combat Ship program) will be fitted with 57mm Mark 3 main guns with stealth cupola from BAE Systems Bofors. We also took the opportunity to get the latest updates on the Malaysian LCS program from Anuar Murad, Director of Defence and Security at Boustead Heavy Industry Corporation.


Anuar Murad, Director of Defence & Security Division at BHIC, gave us the latest updates on the Gowind design for the Royal Malayasian Navy Littoral Combat Ship program.
It was confirmed during LIMA that the combat management system will be the SETIS by DCNS, the Fire Control Systems will be provided by Rheinmetall, and the engines will be provided by MTU. The design seems to have increased in size with the length of the LCS now at 111 meters (compared to 107 as previously reported) with a displacement of about 3,000 tons (compared to full load displacement of 2,730 tonnes as previously announced).

Integrated with SETIS, a combat system derived from FREMM class Frigates, Gowind Combat can tackle air, surface and submarine threats. The shock-resistant platform (built according to military standards), the small radar cross-section together with an excellent acoustic signature makes it a high-performance surface combatant.

Gowind Combat can be operated by a limited crew and has been designed to offer great at-sea availability and reduced life cycle costs.

During LIMA 2013 a Letter of Award was signed for the procurement of BAE Systems Bofors 57mm Mark 3 with stealth Cupola. In this picture taken during LIMA 2013, the gun is seen in open position.

BHIC Bofors Asia Sdn Bhd, the joint venture between Boustead Heavy Industries and BAE Systems (Bofors Asia), created in 2004, is set to benefit following the award to BAE Systems of a sub-contract for the sale of six 57mm Mk 3 naval guns for the Royal Malaysian Navy in a deal worth approximately RM175m.

The contract ‘letter of award’ was granted to BAE Systems during LIMA 2013 by the systems integrator, Contraves Advanced Devices, which is a joint venture between Boustead Heavy Industries and Rheinmetall Air Defence AG.

The 57mm naval gun, designed by BAE Systems in Karlskoga, Sweden, will equip the Malaysian Navy’s Second Generation Patrol Vessel – Littoral Combat Ships (SGPV-LCS). The contract includes ammunition hoists, simulator and initial support.

The 57mm Mk 3 naval gun with stealth cupola is already fitted on the Royal Swedish Navy Visby class stealth corvettes. Like on the Visby class, the stealth cupola will greatly contribute to lower the stealth signature of the Malaysian Gowind corvettes. An engineer from BHIC Bofors Asia SDN. BHD. told us during LIMA 2013 that the shape of the stealth cupola for the Gowind Corvettes will slightly differ from the one found on the Visby class to maximize the stealth characteristics of the corvette designed by DCNS.

HMS Helsingborg (Visby class Corvette) opens fire with its 57mm Mark 3 cannon
Picture: Royal Swedish Navy / Jimmie Adamsson

Navy Recognition

Excellent performance of the Su-30MKM and MiG-29 at LIMA 2013

Su-30MKM, MiG-29 of the Malaysian Air Force had excellent performances in Aerospace Exhibition and International Naval LIMA-2013 held in Malaysia on March 26 to 30, 2013.

Hereafter, photos showing the performance of the MiG-29 and Su-30MKM fighters of the Royal Malaysian Air Force:

Soha News