KD Lekiu (FFG30)

KD Lekiu (FFG30)
History
Malaysia
Name	KD Lekiu
Namesake	Hang Lekiu
Builder	Yarrow Shipbuilders, Glasgow
Launched	December 1994
Commissioned	May 1999
Status	In active service
General characteristics
Class and type	Lekiu-class frigate
Displacement	2,270 long tons (2,306 t) full load
Length	106 m (347 ft 9 in)
Beam	12.8 m (42 ft 0 in)
Draught	3.6 m (11 ft 10 in)
Propulsion	4 diesels, 2 shafts, 16,000 bhp (11,931 kW)
Speed	28 knots (32 mph; 52 km/h)
Range	5,000 mi (8,000 km)
Complement	146 with 18 officers
Sensors and processing systems	Combat system: BAE Systems Insyte Nautis F combat data system Search radar: Ericsson Sea Giraffe-150 Surface search radar G and H bands, Thales Netherlands (Signaal) DA-08 air search operating at E and F bands Navigation radar: Thales Defence I-band navigation radar Fire control radar: 2 × Marconi 1802SW, Alenia Marconi Systems Nautis F combat data system, Radamec Series 2000 Optronic weapon director, BAE SYSTEMS 1802 fire control radars operating at I and J bands Thermal imager: BAE Type V 3001 Sonar: Thales Underwater Systems Spherion TSM 2633 LF sonar
Electronic warfare & decoys	ESM: BAE Mentor-A ECM: Thales Defense Scimitar Decoy: 2 Super Barricade 12 barrelled launchers, Graseby Sea Siren torpedo decoy
Armament	Guns: 1 × Bofors 57 mm gun 2 × MSI DS30B 30 mm cannon Anti-air: 16 × VLS for Sea Wolf SAM Anti-ship: 8 × Exocet MM40 Block 2 SSM Anti-submarine: 2 × triple Eurotorp B515 with A244-S ASW torpedoes
Aircraft carried	1 × Super Lynx 300 helicopter
Aviation facilities	Stern hangar Helicopter landing platform

KD Lekiu is a Lekiu-class guided missile frigate currently serving in the Royal Malaysian Navy and one of the major naval assets for Malaysia. Together with her sister ship Jebat, Lekiu serves in the 23rd Frigate Squadron of the Royal Malaysian Navy.^[1]

Development

The ships were built by Yarrow Shipbuilders of Glasgow (now BAE Systems Surface Ships) of United Kingdom based on the F2000 frigate design. Lekiu was launched in December 1994 and commissioned May 1999. Although the Lekiu was launched before the Jebat, but Jebat carries the lower pennant number (FFG29) compared to Lekiu (FFG30) to signify the seniority of this ship, which accommodates the Admiral of the Royal Malaysian Navy. (Hang Jebat succeeded Hang Tuah as Laksamana (Admiral) of the Malacca Sultanate, while Hang Lekiu was never made a Laksamana.).^[2]

Characteristic

Bridge of KD Lekiu

Bofors 57 mm gun on KD Lekiu

Anti-ship missile system on KD Lekiu equipped with Exocet missiles

Anti submarine warfare on KD Lekiu equipped with A244-S ASW torpedo

As for the weapon systems, Lekiu equipped with one Bofors 57 mm gun and two MSI DS30M 30 mm cannon. For the missiles, there was 16 Sea Wolf surface-to-air missile for air defence and 8 MM40 Exocet block 2 anti-ship missile for anti surface warfare. Two triple Eurotorp B515 with A244-S ASW torpedoes also installed for anti submarine warfare.^[3][4]

References

1. "Lekiu Class, Malaysia". naval-technology.com. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
2. "Government wants to buy British frigates and Italian planes". The Star. 18 July 2006. Archived from the original on 13 March 2007.
3. "CMS Upgrade for Lekiu Class". malaysiandefence.com.
4. "World Navy Todays-Malaysia".