CARTEGANA (Spain): The Royal Malaysian Navy’s (RMN) second submarine, KD Tun Razak, was commissioned last Thursday at the Navantia shipyard here.

Present at the ceremony were Malaysian Ambassador to Spain, Datuk Naimun Ashakli Mohammad, RMN chief Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Jaafar and Defence Ministry procurement division secretary Datuk Nazri Siron.

On Wednesday, Nazri represented the government in formally accepting the submarine from Navantia
together with RMN director of engineering First Admiral Datuk Yahya Hashim and the navy submarine
project team.

Navantia was represented by its shipyard director Manuel Figueira and Scorpene project director Didier Husson. In his speech at the commissioning ceremony, Abdul Aziz said: “The submarine has elevated the RMN into a credible regional maritime power, in line with our vision to be a world class navy.”

As a force-multiplier, submarines will be an important component in the Malaysian Armed Forces ongoing

Fourth Dimensional transformation process, which is focused on an integrated and multi-dimensional capability.

With the commissioning, the submarine, named after the country’s second premier, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, was expected to undergo final trials before sailing for home by May next year.

She will join KD Tunku Abdul Rahman, which was commissioned into service early this year. KD Tunku Abdul Rahman, which returned home on Sept 3, is now undergoing tropical water and weapons trial off the waters of Sabah.

Both vessels will be based at the RMN naval base in Telok Sepanggar, Sabah, which was built specifically
as the headquarters for the submarines. The base also houses the submarines maintenance, training
and personnel facilities.

The two Scorpene-class submarines were ordered by the RMN in 2002 for some RM3.4 billion from French shipbuilder DCNS and its Spanish partner, Navantia.

The vessels were built in separate modules at the Navantia shipyard and the DCNS yard in Cherboug, before the hulls were joined and launched.

Apart from the two submarines, the deal also include the purchase and refurbishment of an Agosta-class submarine, which was used to train RMN personnel. Some 150 RMN personnel were sent to Brest, France as part of the procurement programme.

Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad on Oct 22 told Parliament that the maintenance cost for the two submarines, including spare parts, was about RM270 million a year.

The government is expected to award the integrated service and support contract to Boustead DCNS Naval Corporation Sdn Bhd, a joint venture company between Boustead Heavy Industries Bhd and DCNS of France.

The Scorpene submarines are classified as Perdana Menteri-Class submarines with the RMN. All Perdana Menteri-class submarines are armed with Blacksharkwire-guided torpedoes and Exocet SM-39 sub-launched anti-ship missiles.

It can carry out anti-submarine or anti-surface ship warfare operations, as well as special forces deployment in coastal waters.

Both vessels are also equipped with necessary emergency systems to ensure the survival of its 32-man crew for seven days. Reportedly, the submarines are able to spend an average of 240 days at sea annually.