The RMN's 15-to-5 Armada Transformation Program plan seems to have gained some tailwind with the receipt by BNS of the LOA for the supply of four China designed Littoral Mission Ships (LMS) that is due to be delivered from 2019 with two locally built units to be delivered in 2021.
As for the LMS's big brother the LCS, a new program, presumably for a second batch of the Gowind based LCS should be formally announced in August or September this year. This was mentioned by the CNO Admiral Tan Sri Ahmad Kamarulzaman in an interview by Reuters and reported in the NST that they are in the final stages of negotiations with the French shipbuilder DCNS.
The Navy is still hoping to acquire three multi role support ships (MRSS) which purchase plan is reportedly approved by the Defence Minister and two additional submarines to complete their fleet plans. This is despite the country cutting its total defence budget as the Navy aims to use the cost savings from the 15-to-5 plan to purchase the assets as off budget procurement as reportedly being done with the LMS programme.
As LIMA 2017 kicks off today, hopefully more procurement programs for the Armed Forces will be announced during the event.
This blog will be a repository of the postings of a military nature from my other blog and new ones since then, especially about the Malaysian Military in particular. Hopefully such knowledge about the hardworking men and women who tirelessly work for the security of Malaysia will be acknowledged and appreciated in this way. "We sleep soundly in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm." - Winston Churchill
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