Maharaja Lela-class (LCS)

The Maharaja Lela-class frigates are a series of stealth surface combatants under construction for the Royal Malaysian Navy of Malaysia. First announced as the Second Generation Patrol Vessel programme in 2011, the design is based on an enlarged version of the Gowind-class design by French shipbuilder Naval Group. The Royal Malaysian Navy selected this design over competing bids from ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems and Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding. The construction contract was awarded to Boustead Heavy Industries Corporation, with assembly conducted at Lumut Naval Shipyard in Lumut and electronic component integration in Cyberjaya. Although originally planned as a six-ship class, the Malaysian government reduced the order to five vessels in January 2023.

The Maharaja Lela-class design features a Combined Diesel and Diesel propulsion system powered by four MTU 20V 1163 M94 engines. Sensor systems are integrated via the Naval Group SETIS combat management system and include a Thales SMART-S Mk2 search radar, a Thales CAPTAS-2 anti-submarine warfare suite with a Kingklip Mk.1 hull-mounted sonar and towed array sonar, and Rheinmetall TMEO Mk2 and TMX/EO Mk2 electro-optical fire control systems. Electronic warfare capabilities are provided by Thales Vigile radar electronic support measures and a Wallop Super Barricade decoy launching system. Armament for the Maharaja Lela class consists of a single Bofors 57 mm main gun mounted in a stealth cupola, supplemented by two MSI DS30M 30 mm secondary cannons. For air defense, the frigates carry 16 VL MICA surface-to-air missiles in a Sylver vertical launching system. Anti-submarine capabilities are provided by two fixed triple J+S torpedo launchers. The vessels were originally scheduled to carry eight Kongsberg Naval Strike Missiles; however, the Norwegian government banned the export of these missiles to Malaysia in March 2026, requiring the selection of an alternative missile system. The ships incorporate a stern hangar and helicopter landing platform to support aircraft such as the Super Lynx 300, Fennec AS555, AW139, or EC725.

Construction of the Maharaja Lela class began in 2014, but the program experienced project delays. A parliamentary Public Accounts Committee investigation published in August 2022 identified procurement irregularities and misappropriated funds, resulting in criminal breach of trust charges against a former managing director of Boustead Heavy Industries Corporation. Following a government review, the program was relaunched in January 2023. The lead vessel of the class, Maharaja Lela, was launched on 24 August 2017 and undertook its first sea trials under its own power on 28 January 2026, with commissioning planned for December 2026. The second vessel, Raja Muda Nala, was launched on 9 May 2025 with commissioning scheduled for August 2027. The third vessel, Sharif Mashor, was launched on 10 February 2026. The fourth vessel, Mat Salleh, is under construction, while the fifth, Tok Janggut, remains planned. The sixth vessel, Mat Kilau, was cancelled.