LIMA 2019: vessels from various countries, including Malaysian ones, to be seen.

At Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) exhibition 2019, lots of military vessels, coming from various countries (Malaysia, USA, Australia, and Asian countries such as China, South Korea, Indonesia, and Vietnam) are to be seen.

The RMN frigate KD Lekiu (FFG 30) entering Pearl Harbor in preparation for Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise 2018 (Picture Source : US Navy photo)

That includes Malaysian vessels such as the K.M. Pekan, which is an Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) of the Malaysian Coast Guard, the KD Tunku Abdul Rahman submarine, the KD Gagah Samudera training ship and the KD Lekiu frigate (FFG30), all belonging to the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN).

As a reminder, the KD Lekiu frigate, or FFG30, is a military vessel belonging to the Lekiu-class frigates of the RMN. Those are the most modern surface combatants of the RMN, at least until the Maharaja Lela-class frigates are completed in 2019. The Lekiu-class consists of two vessels, the KD Jebat (FFG29) and the KD Lekiu (FFG30) which was launched before the Jebat, and therefore gave his name to the class. Both were made by Yarrow Shipbuilders of Glasgow (now BAE Systems Surface Ships) in 1994 and 1995. The purchase of these ships involved a transfer of technology programme from BAE Systems to the Malaysian companies.

The Lekiu is 97m long, 13m wide and has a height of 3.6m. It can accommodate 146 crew members along with up to 18 officers. It is equipped with Nautis F combat data system and a BAE Systems-made Type V 3001 thermal imager. It is armed with MM40 Exocet Block II anti-ship missiles launched from 2 four-cells launchers, Seawolf short-range missiles launched from 16 vertical launcher systems (VLS), a Bofors 57mm gun, 2 MSI 30mm guns, and a Whitehead 324mm B515 triple tube torpedo launcher. The ship is also capable of accommodating an Agusta Westland Lynx helicopter, or even a large helicopter, thanks to a hangar and a helicopter deck.

Foreign vessels are also featured, including the Royal Australian Navy’s Diamantina minehunter, a frigate of the Vietnam People’s Navy, the Yueyang Jiangkai II FFG (Type 054A frigate) of the People Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), a landing platform dock (LPD) of the Indonesian Navy, an FCSS of the Republic of Korea Navy, and the USS Blue Ridge and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Preble (DDG 88) of the US Navy.

At Langkawi, people can also attend the Maritime Demonstration that features the Royal Malaysian Navy, and the Malaysian Coast Guard, demonstrating naval search and rescue operations and combat engagement scenarios.