Kasturi-class

The Kasturi-class corvettes are two vessels, KD Kasturi and KD Lekir, operated by the Royal Malaysian Navy. Based on the German FS 1500 design, the class was ordered in February 1981 from the Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft shipyard. Both ships were launched in May 1983 and commissioned in August 1984. They are named after figures from the 15th-century Malay narrative Hikayat Hang Tuah.

The ships utilize a Combined Diesel and Diesel (CODAD) propulsion system consisting of MTU diesels driving two shafts and controllable pitch propellers. Aviation facilities include an aft helicopter landing platform capable of supporting Super Lynx 300 and Fennec helicopters. The vessels do not have an onboard hangar. Plans include the integration of a Schiebel hand-launched unmanned aerial vehicle system.

The class underwent an extensive modernization known as the Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) starting in 2009. This work was carried out locally at the Boustead Naval Shipyard in Lumut. The modernization replaced the original command system with the TACTICOS Combat Management System and introduced the Thales MIRADOR electro-optical sensor. Electronic warfare systems were updated to include the DR3000S ESM suite and SKWS decoy launchers. The sensor suite also includes search and fire control radars and an Atlas Elektronik hull-mounted sonar.

The armament configuration was significantly altered during the SLEP. The Bofors 57 mm gun was relocated from the aft to the bow to serve as the primary gun, replacing the original 100 mm gun. The aft gun position was removed. The original twin-barrel anti-air guns were replaced with MSI DS30B single-barrel cannons. Anti-submarine capabilities were updated by replacing the Bofors 375 mm rocket launcher with EuroTorp B515 triple torpedo launchers for A244-S torpedoes. The vessels carry Exocet MM40 Block 2 anti-ship missiles and MANPADS for air defense.

The ships constitute the 22nd Corvette Squadron and are homeported at Lumut on the west coast of the Malayan Peninsula. KD Kasturi was non-operational from 2007 until the completion of its SLEP in early 2014. KD Lekir underwent modernization between 2011 and 2014. Both vessels participated in the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 in March 2014. The SLEP was intended to extend the service life of the class by approximately 15 years. KD Kasturi entered a further refit period in 2021.