ESSM for LCS

Marhalim Abas May 15, 2015 Malaysia -RMN

SHAH ALAM: TALK around town is that the Raytheon ESSM has been chosen ahead of VL MICA for the RMN’s LCS programme. The talk – once confirmed – mark a remarkable turnaround for the RMN which had been actively working in the background to get the missiles of its choosing for its latest ships.

Malaysian Defence had on various occasions reported RMN’s preference for the NSM and ESSM for the LCS although BNS had sided with DCNS for the choice of the SSM and SAMs.

Defence ministry officials had initially sided with BNS fearing any change will result in higher costs but apparently those had been whittled away as recently it was announced that the NSM had been chosen for the LCS.

Whether or not the NSM and ESSM will also be selected for the recapitalisation of the RMN missile inventory remained to be seen however. It may well be that RMN’s preference will take a back seat after getting what they wanted for the LCS.

The selection of the ESSM instead of the MICA according to industry sources was the reason that the date for the building of the first LCS in Lumut – which was supposed to start early this month – had not been confirmed yet.

It is likely that the launchers of the ESSM will be assembled in Malaysia as part of the off-set programme for the procurement. Back in 2012, it was announced that Contraves Advanced Devices Sdn Bhd, a 51 per cent equity owned company of listed Boustead Heavy Industries Corp Bhd (BHIC), has secured an initial contract from Raytheon Company for the production and supply of components for the latter’s Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM).

Although Boustead and RMN may not make an announcement soon it is likely that a notice of the impending sale to Malaysia will be put out by the US DSCA.

I am not purview to the numbers and the exact version of the ESSM to be procured but since the first LCS is to be delivered in late 2018 or 2019, the Block 2 version will be available by then. The ESSM Block 2 reportedly has a range of 40km.

RMN will be the second ASEAN navy to operate the ESSM after the RTN.