Lumut:The Lumut Naval Shipyard (LUNAS) has rescheduled the delivery of Malaysia's first Littoral Combat Ship (LCS 1) to April 2027, as announced by Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin. This adjustment affects the Ministry of Defence's (MINDEF) initial plans under Phase 1.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin stated that LUNAS could not previously ensure delivery by the initial deadline of December this year. The delay is expected to impact the operational readiness of the Malaysian Armed Forces and the nation's defense capabilities.

In response to the postponement, MINDEF has issued a Liquidated Ascertained Damages (LAD) notice to LUNAS, signifying the government's urgency regarding the delay. Furthermore, MINDEF, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, will intensively monitor progress to ensure adherence to the new timeline.

As of August, LCS 1 was 86.39 percent complete but remained 13.61 percentage points behind schedule. However, the delay has been slightly reduced by 0.27 percentage points. Meanwhile, progress has been made on issues highlighted in the Auditor-General's Report (LKAN) No. 2/2026, including the signing of the Integrated Logistics Support and Technical Aids contract on August 26. This agreement facilitates various vessel activities, tests, support work, and training.

Further procurement efforts are ongoing, with negotiations underway for 30mm Medium Calibre Gun ammunition and the Integrated Decoy Launching System. For surface-to-air missile procurement, a Letter of Acceptance has been signed, with contract finalization anticipated by mid-October. MINDEF is evaluating options from South Korea, Turkiye, and France to ensure timely delivery and installation.

Minister Mohamed Khaled assured that the absence of the Naval Strike Missile would not compromise the LCS's armament. The vessel will still be equipped with various systems, including surface-to-air and surface-to-sea missiles, electronic warfare capabilities, and a Combat Management System integrated with radar and detection technologies.

The LKAN No. 2/2026 report, released on Monday, indicated that the LCS project was 7.55 percent behind schedule as of June 25, with delays ranging between 30 to 108 days.