KUALA LUMPUR: The Royal Malaysian Navy is racing against time to modernise its ageing fleet, with more than 60% of its assets now over 40 years old, even as several key procurement programmes crucial to its future capabilities remain in progress.
Navy chief Admiral Tan Sri Zulhelmy Ithnain said the ageing fleet is one of the service’s biggest operational challenges, forcing the Navy to keep decades-old vessels in service while maintenance costs continue to rise.
“More than 60% of our assets are over 40 years old. This is one of the biggest challenges facing the Navy because we still have to commit six ships to operations every day throughout the year.
“As these vessels age, corrective maintenance becomes more frequent than preventive maintenance because they can break down unexpectedly,” he told reporters after the 53rd anniversary celebration of the Combattante Squadron here yesterday.
Although the vessels remain seaworthy, Admiral Zulhelmy said maintaining them has become increasingly difficult, likening the task to keeping a car from the 1970s on the road as spare parts become harder to source.
“Two Combattante-class vessels, KD Perdana and KD Ganas, are currently undergoing an Obsolescence Programme to strengthen their hulls and extend their service life by another 10 to 15 years.”
However, he stressed that the programme is only a temporary measure while the Navy awaits the arrival of new assets under its 15-to-5 Transformation Programme.
Among the most eagerly awaited acquisitions is the first Littoral Combat Ship, although its delivery now hinges on the government’s decision regarding the vessel’s Naval Strike Missile system.
Admiral Zulhelmy said negotiations involving the missile package are still ongoing between the government and the shipbuilder, with Putrajaya expected to decide whether the ship can be accepted under certain conditions or only upon delivery in its full operational configuration.
“It is not just about having a missile that can be used. We also have to ensure it can be integrated with the ship’s combat system, and all of this comes at a cost.
Meanwhile, Admiral Zulhelmy said the Navy is evaluating proposals from several countries for its Multi-Role Support Ship (MRSS) programme under the 13th Malaysia Plan.
He said the programme is likely to extend into the 14th Malaysia Plan due to its scale and phased implementation.
Admiral Zulhelmy added that at least one of the three MRSS vessels planned under the 15-to-5 Transformation Programme must be built locally.
“The requirement is for two ships under the current plan, but under the 15-to-5 plan there are three. The third vessel must be built in the country. These are among the conditions.”
