LCS contractor completes 94pct of detailed design - deputy minister

PARLIAMENT | Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd (BNS), the main contractor for the construction of six littoral combat ships, has so far completed 94 percent of its detailed design.

Deputy Defence Minister Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz said the ministry's focus is for BNS to complete the detailed design phase which involved importing basic designs to production drawings for the building of vessel gear.

“For now, the contractor has completed 94 percent of the detailed design.

"Up until November 2019, the Naval Group, as an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), has approved 82 percent of the 94 percent detailed design completed by BNS," Ikmal told the Dewan Rakyat today.

He said this in response to Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (Perikatan Nasional-Pasir Mas) on whether non-completion of the LCS' detailed design will further delay the construction of the first combat vessel, contrary to a government's reassurance of positive progress and a new target date of two years.

Of the remaining six percent of the incomplete design, Ikmal said the segment covers "non-critical zone" or parts above water, while the remaining detailed design for portions submerged has been completed.

"Matters related to the detailed design are also being negotiated between BNS and the French Naval Group. This is important to ensure the final decision will meet the needs of the Royal Malaysian Navy as the end user.

"The Naval Group has also decided to send its technical team to conduct an audit on the detailed design next month," he added.

Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein previously said the construction of the LCS would only resume once all negotiations were completed and agreements finalised in the mobilisation phase which ends in December, stressing that at least one LCS should be completed within two years.

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