The Royal Malaysian Navy’s first Littoral Combat Ship, LCS 1 Maharaja Lela, completed its first sea voyage on January 28, sailing under its own power following a week of pierside testing. The test marks a key milestone in the troubled program, which has faced significant delays and cost overruns.
Maharaja Lela’s First Sea Going
During the test, Maharaja Lela departed Lumut Naval Shipyard with assistance from tugboats, then proceeded to sail independently in waters off Pangkor Island before returning to the shipyard. Representatives from the Royal Malaysian Navy and Lumut Naval Shipyard CEO Ir. Azhar Jumaat were present.
The sea voyage was designed to test the frigate’s propulsion systems, electricity generation, and air conditioning, according to Malaysian Defense Minister Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin, preparing it for official sea trials in early April.
Delivery Delays and Program Costs
The delivery of Maharaja Lela has been delayed by four months to December 2026. LCS 2, Raja Muda Nala, is now expected in August 2027, while delivery dates for the remaining three ships remain unchanged. As of December 25, 2025, Maharaja Lela was 82.9 percent complete, falling short of the original schedule of 96.52 percent.
Mohamed Khaled attributed the delays to late deliveries from original equipment manufacturers and the need for inspection and replacement of wiring and piping following a design audit by Naval Group. Lumut Naval Shipyard has implemented three shifts to mitigate the delays.
The program has now cost RM 8.3 billion, representing 74% of the total RM11.2 billion budget. Payments are now tied to actual progress on the ships, with increased oversight from the Royal Malaysian Navy.
KD Maharaja Lela Specifications
Displacement: 3,100 tons full load
Length: 111 m (364 ft 2 in)
Beam: 16 m (52 ft 6 in)
Draught: 3.85 m (12 ft 8 in)
Propulsion: CODAD
Speed: 28 knots (52 km/h)
Range: 5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h)
Complement: 138 sailors
Weapon systems:
- Main gun: 1 × Bofors 57 mm gun (in stealth cupola)
- Secondary gun: 2 × MSI DS30M 30 mm cannon
- SAM: N/A
- ASM: 8 × Naval Strike Missile SSM
- Torpedo: 2 × triple SEA torpedo launcher
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