China Launches Malaysian Navy's Second Keris-class Ship

China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC) has launched "Sundang," the Royal Malaysian Navy’s second Keris-class littoral mission ship (LMS) on July 12 in China's Wuhan city, according to media reports.

The LMS is the second of four ships in the class ordered under a RM1.17 billion (nearly $285 million) contract from March 2017. A total of 18 these large patrol ships of this class are planned.

The initial plan stipulated that the first two units would be delivered from China, while the remaining two would be built in Malaysia by Boustead Naval Shipyard.

The Malaysian government has now negotiated a reduction in the price of the ships in exchange for all four ships being built in China. The four ships are scheduled to be delivered by 2021.

LMS Keris, the lead ship, was launched in April and is expected to be delivered in December, this year. LMS Sundang will undergo further outfitting and trials before being delivered in April 2020, according to the Malaysian Navy.

The ships of this class have a length of 69m with a displacement of 780 tonnes. They will support mine warfare, hydrography, and ISR missions.