Billion ringgit dive for new submarine
PETALING JAYA: KD Tunku Abdul Rahman's much delayed tropical water trials start today after engineers certified that the nation's sole submarine is safe to dive.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi confirmed this yesterday but declined further comments.
KD Tunku Abdul Rahman is based at the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) base in Teluk Sepanggar, near Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
The submarine is expected to conduct its trials in the South China Sea. On Friday, Zahid told reporters that the supplier and local engineers had tested the vessel and found that it was now functioning properly as the mechanical faults had been repaired.
"There is no cost to be borne by the government because the submarine is still under warranty," he had said.
The Malay Mail on Feb 10 reported that KD Tunku Abdul Rahman had been unable to dive for three months due to technical defects. The defects involved the water cooling system and a high pressure water valve inside the submarine's ballast tanks.
The defect forced the RM1 billion plus French-built Scorpene submarine to delay tropical water trials that were scheduled to be completed by the end of last month.
As a result, buil der DCNS SA, extended its warranty, which was supposed to expire on Jan 25, until May so the submarine could complete its trials — the first step to obtaining its Initial Operational Capability (IOC).
The RMN procured two Scorpenes, KD Tunku Abdul Rahman and KD Tun Abdul Razak, for some RM3.4 billion in 2002 from a partnership of French and Spanish shipbuilders, DCNS and Navantia.
They are classified as Perdana Menteri-class submarines with the RMN. Both submarines are armed with Black Shark wire-guided torpedoes and Exocet SM39 antiship missiles.
They can carry out anti-submarine or anti-surface ship warfare, as well as special forces deployment in coastal waters.
Both vessels are equipped with emergency systems to ensure the survival of its 32-man crew for seven days. The submarines are reportedly able to spend an average of 240 days at sea a year.
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Comments
Submitted by Lock and Load on Thursday, April 22nd, 2010.
Submitted by Fadly on Tuesday, March 16th, 2010.
Submitted by harry on Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010.
I spoke to the chief bodyguard of a wealthy malaysian businessman, a former malaysian commando officer and we talked about the submarine and he said that it was long overdue as it is definitely an asset to people like him with special forces training and experience. So, it is silly that there are still people who would question as to why your country - with the world's most busiest channel and a seas with huge deposits of oil with several asian countries setting up their own forward posts, would need a submarine!!!!
And no reason at all for anyone to make a fuss about the defects as the manufacturers themselves will bear the costs! We build submarines in sweden - we have supplied to your southern neighbours and like all new and sophisticated equipment, there will always be problems in the heat and humidity of the tropics. Be kind to your men in uniformed - they are your front liners and who else would have volunteered to protect you but them? Remember, you do not have a military national draft like your paranoid southern neighbour, so be thankful that there are still malaysians who would volunteer do that other malaysians can sleep peacefully!
Submitted by Anonymous on Monday, February 22nd, 2010.
Submitted by Anonymous on Monday, February 22nd, 2010.