LUMUT: Navy KD Lekir on Thursday (Feb 26) commenced its voyage from the Lumut Naval Base to begin the Lekir Australia Deployment 2026 (LEAD '26) exercise, encompassing multilateral naval drills, defence diplomacy activities, and long-range international sailing.
The departure ceremony for KD Lekir was officiated by Western Fleet Commander, Rear Admiral Datuk Baharudin Wan Md Nor, at the TPL Operations Jetty on Thursday morning.
Baharudin said the two-month assignment involves 150 officers, crew members, and support staff, led by KD Lekir Commanding Officer Commander Megat Mohamad Sofwan Firdaus Megat Mohamad Yunus.
He added that prior to departure, all personnel underwent thorough preparation covering operational readiness, tactical training, technical maintenance, and logistics management to ensure the ship is in optimum condition for sailing through regional and international waters.
"KD Lekir’s first engagement is the International Fleet Review (IFR) marking the 125th anniversary of the Royal Australian Navy, which will take place in Sydney on March 21,” he told Bernama and TV3 on Thursday.
Baharudin said the large-scale event, gathering 35 ships from 20 countries, provides a vital platform to strengthen defence diplomacy among participating nations.
KD Lekir will also take part in Exercise Kakadu 26, involving 21 ships and a submarine from 14 countries from March 22 to 30, a biennial exercise organised by the Royal Australian Navy.
"After Sydney, KD Lekir will continue the Circumnavigation of the Australian Continent, a long and challenging voyage, which may face rough seas, but it allows Navy personnel to gain experience in such conditions,” he said.
He added that KD Lekir will also participate in the Malaysia-Australia Exercise (MASTEX) 26 in Perth from April 14 to 20, a continuation of bilateral exercises aimed at strengthening professional ties between the two nations after scheduling and asset availability constraints.
Before concluding LEAD '26, KD Lekir will conduct a port visit to Jakarta, Indonesia from April 26 to 29 to strengthen bilateral relations and regional defence diplomacy.
"On the way to Jakarta, KD Lekir will hold a special commemorative event in the Northwest Australian waters to remember the Malaysia Airlines MH370 tragedy, expressing empathy for the victims and honouring Navy ships involved in the search mission,” he said.
Baharudin said the Navy’s participation in such exercises aims to build understanding, enhance joint operational capabilities with partner navies, and strengthen national security and defence capacity through bilateral and multilateral cooperation.
"This initiative aligns with the Defence Ministry’s Strategy for Credible Partnerships. The training and experience gained are optimised across all missions to maximise benefits for the Navy,” he added. - Bernama
