Kasturi-class frigate

KD Kasturi
Class overview
Builders:	Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft
Operators:	Royal Malaysian Navy
Completed:	2
Active:	2
General characteristics
Displacement:	1,690 long tons (1,720 t) standard 1,900 long tons (1,900 t) full load
Length:	97.30 m (319 ft 3 in)
Draft:	3.50 m (11 ft 6 in)
Propulsion:	4 × MTU 20V 1163 TB92 diesels 21,460 bhp (16,000 kW) 2 shafts
Speed:	28 kn (52 km/h; 32 mph)
Range:	3,600 nmi (6,700 km; 4,100 mi) at 18 kn (33 km/h; 21 mph) 7,000 nmi (13,000 km; 8,100 mi) at 14 kn (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Complement:	124
Sensors and processing systems:	Thales Nederland DA-08 Air/Sea Search Radar Signaal WM-22 fire control radar Decca TM 1226C navigation radar Atlas Elektronik DSQS-21 hull mounted ASW sonar
Electronic warfare & decoys:	ESM with Racal RAPIDS intercept Racal Scimitar jammer 2 × Matra Dagaie decoy launcher
Armament:	1 × Bofors 57mm/70 Dual Purpose Guns 2 x 30 mm MSI-Defence DS30 machine gun MANPAD SAM 2 x 4 MBDA MM40 Block 2 Exocet 2 × triple Eurotorp B515 with A244S Whitehead ASW torpedoes
Aviation facilities:	Landing platform aft for light helicopter (Westland Super Lynx 300 or Eurocopter Fennec)

The Kasturi class is a ship class of two ships in service with the Royal Malaysian Navy. The ships are considered light frigates or large corvettes, and are called both in news sources.

The class comprises two ships, the KD Kasturi (F25) and KD Lekir (F26). The class is named after the lead ship of the class, in honour of Hang Kasturi who is one of the five famed warriors of the Malacca Sultanate. Though smaller than the Rahmat class, the Kasturi class is more offensively capable.

Overview

Design

The ships were built by the Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) shipyard in Kiel, Germany. KD Kasturi and KD Lekir were launched on 14 May 1983 and commissioned on 15 August 1984. Both ships are presently serving with 22 Corvette Squadron and homeported at TLDM Lumut.

The Colombian Navy's four-ship Almirante Padilla class is based on the same Blohm + Voss FS 1500 design, but with a different weapons and electronics suite.

Armament

The Kasturi-class have a 100 mm/55 DP main gun, while the anti-ship capability is provided by the MM40 Exocet SSMs. However, the Kasturi class lacks an anti-aircraft missile system, and rely on MANPAD systems for air defence. The FS1500 design, which is modular, allows for future upgrades.

During LIMA 2007, Boustead Heavy Industries Sdn Bhd, the current builder of the Kedah class received a Letter of Intent from the Malaysian Government for the Kasturi Service Life Extension Programme. It was expected that the 100 mm gun would be replaced with a medium calibre gun (either the 76 mm Oto-Melara or the Bofors 57 mm gun. The aft gun would be removed completely and a two MSI 30 mm guns would replace the Emerlec guns. No SAMs are expected to be fitted on the ship.

Propulsion

The Kasturi class is powered by a CODAD propulsion system, provided by four MTU diesels driving two shafts and developing 21,460 horsepower (16,000 kW) driving two controllable pitch propellers. This gives a maximum speed of 28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph), and a range of 7,000 nautical miles (13,000 km; 8,100 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph).

Aircraft

The Kasturi class does not have a hangar facility, and thus does not have an embarked helicopter. The landing platform aft is suitable for an AgustaWestland SeaLynx 300 or the Eurocopter Fennec helicopter.

Service life extension

A Service Life Extension Programme (SLEP) was awarded to Boustead Naval Shipyard in 2009 to extend the service life of these surface combatants by another 10 years. The upgrade program includes:

• TACTICOS CMS
• Thales DA-08 air search radar
• Mirador-IR optronic director
• MAV marine navigation radar
• 2 × Eurotorp B515 with A244S Whitehead ASW torpedoes
• DR3000S ESM suite
• Link Y MK 2.5
• TERMA SKWS decoys
• 8 × MBDA Exocet MM40 Block II
• ATLAS Electronik DSQS-24C hull mounted sonar
• Removal of 100mm A gun and replace with 57mm Bofors
• Removal of Emerlec 30mm guns and replace with MSI 30mm DS30B guns

Gallery

• 

  Two ships of the Royal Malaysian Navy tied up at Stokes Hill Wharf in July 2005.

• 

  Multinational ships and KD Lekir (F 26) line up during a maneuvering exercise as part of the Malaysian phase of cooperation afloat readiness and training (CARAT) 2008.

See also

• Kedah class offshore patrol vessel

References

• Baker, A.D. The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World 1998–1999. Annapolis, Maryland, USA. ISBN 1-55750-111-4.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kasturi class frigates.

• Photograph of both KD Kasturi and KD Lekir
• Boustead Naval Shipyard Awarded SLEP Contract

v t e     Ships of the Royal Malaysian Navy    Submarines Perdana Menteri Class KD Tunku Abdul Rahman KD Tun Abdul Razak Frigates Lekiu Class KD Jebat KD Lekiu Kasturi Class KD Kasturi KD Lekir Corvette Laksamana Class KD Laksamana Hang Nadim KD Laksamana Tun Abdul Jamil KD Laksamana Muhammad Amin KD Laksamana Tun Pusmah Mines Countermeasures Vessel Mahamiru Class KD Mahamiru KD Jerai KD Ledang KD Kinabalu Patrol vessels Kedah Class OPV KD Kedah KD Pahang KD Perak KD Terengganu KD Kelantan KD Selangor Handalan Class KD Handalan KD Perkasa KD Pendekar KD Gempita Kris Class All ship in this class are retired and hand over to Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency Hydrographic Survey Vessels Perantau Class KD Perantau KD Mutiara Fast Attack Vessels Perdana Class KD Perdana KD Serang KD Ganas KD Ganyang Jerong Class KD Jerung KD Todak KD Paus KD Yu KD Baung KD Pari Sri Tiga Class KD Sri Tiga KD Sri Gaya Auxiliary Vessels Others KD Sri Inderapura TLDM Bunga Mas Lima TLDM Bunga Mas Enam Miscellaneous vessels Sri Indera Sakti Class (Combat Support Ship) KD Sri Indera Sakti KD Mahawangsa Training Ship KD Hang Tuah KLD Tunas Samudera MV Fajar Samudera MV STS Puteri Mahsuri KD Gagah Samudera KD Teguh Samudera Tugboat KTD Penyu KTD Sotong KTD Kepah