Navy Chief Intends to Upgun the LMS

Recently, the new Chief of the Navy, Datuk Abdul Rahman bin Ayob hinted that he intends to procure a new batch of armed Littoral Mission Ships (LMS) as part of his plan to rejuvenate the Navy.

Laksamana Datuk Abdul Rahman saluting the Guard of Honour at MINDEF. Photo credit: Cawangan Komunikasi Strategik, Markas Tentera Laut

This new procurement sees the function of the LMS changed to that of a combat role instead of a combat support role. Under the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) 15-to-5 Transformation plan, the LMS had been intended for littoral waters patrol, surveillance, and HADR missions. HADR is humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. These include Search and Rescue operations and assisting civilian vessels in distress.

This limited role saw the ship only being lightly armed, with its current armament of a Chinese-made PJ17 30mm cannon and two 12.7mm (.50 calibre) Browning M2 Heavy Machineguns. Comparing these armaments with those used by other navies in our region, including those that have an overlapping claim with us, these are baby teeth.

Datuk Abdul Rahman Ayob had outlined three core approaches to rejuvenate the Navy, the first being three programmes. The programmes are the Obsolescence programme, the Repowering Programme, and the Smart Refit Programme. Reading into this programme and the changes in the role of the LMS, this implies that the four Keris class LMS which had been built in China will likely get an armament upgrade.  

Herein lies the question. These ships were designed and built in China. Then Chief of the Navy Admiral (Retired) Tan Sri Ahmad Kamarulzaman Ahmad Badaruddin had envisioned these vessels in the combat support role only. Therefore, these ships will avoid coming into contact with People Liberation Army - Navy (PLA - N). The troubled LCS was supposed to handle the Chinese Navy's frequent intrusion into Malaysian waters and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).  

If the Navy intends to up-arm these vessels, the Navy might have to approach Chinese arms manufacturers. With PLA - Navy will already know the capabilities and weaknesses of these vessels which is counterproductive for the Navy.  

Going to the West to arm these vessels will pose a different problem. Western firms will be reluctant to integrate their system with the Chinese-made system for fear of compromising their technology. Therefore, the Navy will need to do a major refitting exercise before any refitting can proceed.  

Therefore, this is the dilemma that the Navy will need to account for when considering the second batch of LMS. A worst-case scenario will see the Navy try to integrate the possibly incompatible system in-house. They could get the expertise from the Air Force as they had managed to integrate Western-made missiles onto Russian-made platforms.  

In a piece of separate news, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) has revealed that they have requested a budget to procure at least two more submarines. That would be a piece for another day.