The Royal Malaysian Navy’s second Maharaja Lela-class littoral combat ship has touched the water for the first time.

The event followed the vessel fulfilling technical downslip safety requirements set by its developer and state-owned company, Lumut Naval Shipyard.

After its launch, the “KD Raja Muda Nala” (2502) was moved to the center’s shiplift, where it will receive its primary surveillance radar, main mast, and radar capabilities.

The platform is expected to enter service before the 2030s after its assembly and necessary tests are completed.

Next – Gen Surface Combatants
Kuala Lumpur’s Maharaja Lela program includes five systems that will serve as the country’s largest and most advanced warships.

Each vessel in the class measures 111 meters (364 feet) long and has a 16 – meter (52 – foot) beam.

It will be armed with a 57 – millimeter gun, 30-millimeter automated protection cannons, surface – to – air missiles, anti – ship missiles, and anti – submarine torpedoes.

The platform will have the capacity for over 130 sailors, several unmanned aerial systems, and helicopters weighing about 10 tons (9,071 kilograms).

It will be fitted with four 9,900-horsepower engines for a range of 5,000 nautical miles (9,260 kilometers / 5,753 miles) and a speed of 28 knots (52 kilometers / 32 miles per hour).

The effort’s lead hull, the Maharaja Lela (2501), will be delivered by 2026.

Corvettes in Production
The Southeast Asian government’s Maharaja Lela program is in parallel production with a separate surface combat fleet based on the Turkish Navy’s Ada – class corvettes.

This initiative will see the construction of three vessels that will undertake anti – surface, anti – aircraft, asymmetric, and electronic warfare tasks for the navy.

Turkish shipbuilder STM is scheduled to complete these 100 – meter (328 – foot) corvettes by 2028.

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• The Defense Post