Brunei Receives 2 New Darussalam Class Patrol Vessels

08 Januari 2010

Darussalam class patrol vessel (all photos : Brunei DoD)

GERMANY, - The Royal Brunei Armed Forces recorded another significant milestone in its history with the official acceptance of two DARUSSALAM Class Patrol Vessels, namely KDB DARUSSALAM and KDB DARULEHSAN.

The construction of these ships manifested the commitment of the government of His Majesty The Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan Of Negara Brunei Darussalam in further enhancing the Royal Brunei Armed Forces capability, in particular the Royal Brunei Navy, to defend the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity as stated in the Defence White Paper 2004 and the update 2007.

The handing over ceremony took place at Lürssen Shipyard, Germany and accepting on behalf of the government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam was the Deputy Minister Of Defence, Dato Paduka Haji Mustappa bin Haji Sirat.

The DARUSSALAM Class is the first of its class with a length of 80 metres and 13 metres wide. It is propelled by diesel engines and has an endurance of 21 days at sea. The ship is equipped with surface to surface missile and a medium calibre gun. Both ships are expected to start their maiden voyage back to Brunei in March and expected to arrive in May this year, in time for the 50th Anniversary of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces. The ships will be manned fully by officers and men of the Royal Brunei Navy personnel.

The day before the acceptance ceremony, the third DARUSSALAM Class ship, DARULAMAN, was launched, marking the first time the ship was laid into the water. The ship will undergo the Harbour and Sea Acceptance Trials before the plan delivery in August this year.

Previously, a total of four 41 metre IJHTIHAD Class Fast Patrol Boats have been commissioned into service with the Royal Brunei Navy, where two of the ships began operating since March 2010 followed by another two in August 2010. The IJHTIHAD Class is also part of the project between the government of His Majesty The Sultan And Yang Di-Pertuan Of Negara Brunei Darussalam and Lürssen.

The DARUSSALAM class ships will also replace the Missile Gun Boat WASPADA class whom had been in service with the Royal Brunei Navy for more than 30 years.

(Brunei DoD)