KD Tunku Osman Jewa, the Royal Malaysian Navy's third Tunku-class littoral mission ship Royal Malaysian Navy
Naval Ships

Turkish yard launches Malaysia's third Tunku-class littoral mission ship

Will Xavier

Turkish defence shipbuilder STM has launched the final vessel in a new class of three warships that the company is building for the Royal Malaysian Navy.

The future KD Tunku Osman Jewa and her sisters, which have been officially designated as littoral mission ships (LMS), will be built in Turkey with STM as the prime contractor responsible for all phases of the project from design to delivery. Her sisters KD Tunku Laksamana Abdul Jalil and KD Raja Laut were launched at STM's facilities in May and June of this year, respectively.

STM will undertake ship design, project management, construction management, material/system procurement, integration design and installation, tests, and integrated logistics support (ILS) activities. The company will also be responsible for the preparation of design and ILS documents related to the project.

Upon completion, each LMS will have a length of 99.56 metres, a displacement of 2,500 tonnes, and a maximum speed of 26 knots. Accommodation will be available on each ship for 111 personnel.

Armament will include a 76mm naval gun, a 30mm remote controlled stabilised gun, Atmaca anti-ship missiles, and K-SAAM surface-to-air missiles.

Each ship will also be fitted with chaff dispensers and a helicopter deck.