Scorpene Ready for Combat

09 Juni 2010

KD Tunku Abdul Rahman : Malaysia's first submarine (photo : wazari)

Malaysia's First Submarine Passes Tropical Water Trials

KUALA LUMPUR: KD Tunku Abdul Rahman, the country's first submarine, is ready for combat operations. The submarine attained its initial operational capability (IOC) status after successfully undergoing tropical water trials for the last three months.

Industry sources told The Malay Mail the submarine has overcome teething problems which prevented it from completing the tropical water trials earlier this year.

These sources said the submarine was expected to be declared fully operational by year-end. Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) chief Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Jaafar, however, was not available for comment yesterday.

KD Tunku Abdul Rahman is based at the RMN base in Teluk Sepanggar, near Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

On Feb 10, The Malay Mail reported technical defects forced the RM1billion-plus French-built Scorpene submarine to delay tropical water trials scheduled for completion by end January.

As a result, the submarine's builder, DCNS SA, extended its warranty, which was supposed to expire on Jan 25, until May 25 so that the submarine could complete this exercise, which is the first step to obtaining an IOC status.

RMN's second submarine, KD Tun Razak is expected to arrive from France in late July or early August. The RMN procured these two submarines for some RM3.4 billion in 2002 from French and Spanish shipbuilders, DCNS and Navantia.

They are classified as Perdana Menteri-class submarines with the RMN. Both submarines are armed with Black Shark wire-guided torpedoes and Exocet SM39 anti-ship missiles.

They are able to carry out antisubmarine or anti-surface ship warfare, as well as special forces deployment in coastal waters.

Both vessels are equipped with an emergency system to ensure the survival of its 32-man crew for up to seven days.

These submarines are reportedly able to spend an average of 240 days a year at sea.

(Malay Mail)

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Scorpene Submarines Maintenance Cost Yet To Be Finalised -- Zahid

09 Juni 2010

KUALA LUMPUR: The maintenance cost of the two Royal Malaysian Navy Scorpene submarines had yet to be finalised, said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He said the government was currently holding negotiations to get the best deals for the maintenance of the submarines.

"A claim that DCNS (France shipbuilder) had offered a three-year contract worth Euro 6 million or RM30 million to Boustead Naval Corporation Sdn Bhd is a slander and baseless," he said to a question from Tian Chua (PKR-Batu) when winding up debate at the Dewan Rakyat here today.
Ahmad Zahid also denied Tian Chua's claim that both submarines were equipped with navigation safety and combat systems, sensors and a periscope simulator.

The navy took delivery of the two Scorpene submarines costing RM3.4 billion from DCNS and its Spanish partner, Navantia last year.

The contract for the supply and delivery of Scorpene submarine navigation safety and combat systems, sensors and periscope simulators costing RM128.5 million was signed during the Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2010, said Ahmad Zahid, adding that they were procurement of simulators used to train the submarine crew.

"The simulators were not built into the submarine but rather installed in the training room," he said.
Tian Chua claimed that the cost of maintaining the two submarines amounted RM270 million per year and DCNS had signed a contract worth RM128.5 million or Euro 27 million to supply the navigation safety and combat systems, sensors and periscope simulators.

(Malay Mail)