As we have discussed in the past, more and more countries are starting to build submarine fleets. Aided by foreign builders and manufacturing agreements, countries that in the past realized the worth of submarine assets can now acquire effective subs for manageable costs. Malaysia is one of the countries coming into the sub community – and this entry is causing ripples being felt around the world. What was once a very exclusive club is becoming larger all the time.
The first Malaysian submarine jointly built by French and Spanish firms was completed in October 2007 at a dockyard in northwestern France. Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Malaysian naval commanders, French defense officials and representatives of DCNS dockyard in Cherbourg, Normandy inaugurated the KD Tunku Abdul Rahman.
Najib’s wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, broke the ceremonial bottle of water against the submarine’s sail to formally launch the vessel named after Malaysia’s founder and first prime minister. Mansor also unveiled a plaque of the submarine as part of the inaugural ceremony and called upon Allah to bless the vessel and its crews.
The officials toured the KD Tunku Abdul Rahman, one of two submarines ordered by the Royal Malaysian Navy from DCNS and Spain’s Navantia in 2002. Malaysia ordered for two brand-new Scorpene submarines for RM3.4 billion in 2002 which were jointly built by French shipbuilding giant Defence Conseil National and its Spanish partner, Navantia. The submarine is armed with torpedoes, anti-surface-ship missiles and sea mines. A second-hand reconditioned submarine “Quessant”, to be used for training purposes, was booked under an agreement with a Malaysian company “Armaris”.
The electricity and diesel-powered Scorpene submarine, capable of operating under 350-metre deep water for 40 straight days, is suitable to be deployed in South China Sea and Straits of Melaka.
The KD Tunku Abdul Rahman will sail to Malaysia in January 2009. It will be manned by the country’s first submarine crew, whose training is part of the vessel contract with DCNS and Navantia. Currently, a 142-member navy crew and officers are undergoing a four-year training programme at the DCN Dockyard in Brest.
Malaysia’s second submarine, named KD Tun Razak, is expected to be completed in October 2009.
For more info see: Malaysian News Service or The Star Online
