Exclusive new photos of Malaysia first Maharaja Lela class Littoral Combat Ship unveiled.

Exclusive new photos of the first Maharaja Lela class frigate have been unveiled by Malaysia Military Review. The first Littoral Combat Ship was pulled out to install a radome, and its antennas will also be fitted.
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First Maharaja Lela class Littoral Combat Ship Maharaja Lela. (Picture source: Malaysia Military Review)

The Maharaja Lela Class, also known as the Second Generation Patrol Vessel (SGPV), are littoral combat ships developed for the Royal Malaysian Navy by Boustead Naval Shipyard. Their design is based on the Gowind 2500 corvette, reflecting a reduced radar cross-section and minimized acoustic, infrared, and magnetic signatures. Originally projected as a fleet of six ships, the number has been reduced to five due to budget revisions and project delays.

The Maharaja Lela Class has an overall length of 111 meters, a beam of 16 meters, and a displacement of 3,100 tons. They are built to accommodate a crew of 118 and support helicopter operations with a deck designed for a 10-ton helicopter, along with unmanned aerial vehicles.

These ships are armed robustly; the primary armament includes a BAE Systems Mk3 57mm gun housed in a stealth cupola on the bow deck, capable of firing four rounds per second up to 17 kilometers.

Additional armaments include a 16-cell Sylver vertical launching system for surface-to-air missiles, Kongsberg Naval Strike Missiles capable of engaging targets over 200 kilometers away, DS30M Mark 2 cannons, and lightweight torpedo launchers compatible with NATO torpedoes.

For surveillance and tracking, the Maharaja Lela Class is equipped with advanced sensor systems including SharpEye Doppler radars, the Smart-S Mk2 3-D surveillance radar capable of tracking small surface targets and missiles up to 250 kilometers, and the Captas-2 sonar system for submarine detection.

The communication and electronic warfare capabilities are enhanced by R&S NAVICS integrated communication systems and Thales Vigile radar electronic support measures, along with countermeasures like the Super Barricade decoy system for self-defense.

The propulsion system is a combined diesel and diesel (CODAD) arrangement, utilizing four MTU diesel engines and allowing the ships a maximum speed of 28 knots and a range of 5,000 nautical miles at economical cruising speeds.