Kuala lumpur: Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has expressed its readiness to support the Royal Malaysian Navy's (RMN) modernisation programme by offering three proven naval ship platforms tailored to Malaysia's 15-to-5 Transformation Plan. HHI Manager of Sales, International Defence Program Naval and Special Ship, Jewon Yun, indicated the company's willingness to propose its HDP-1500, HDP-2200, and HDP-10000 models for the RMN's upcoming acquisition programmes.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Jewon Yun shared his pride in presenting these tested models to the RMN and emphasized HHI's preparedness to support the 15-to-5 programme through long-term partnerships and local collaboration. He highlighted that the models offered are not mere concepts but ships already operational in other navies, reinforcing their reliability and effectiveness.
Yun further elaborated on HHI's commitment to developing local maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capabilities in Malaysia. Drawing parallels with HHI's investment in the Subic Shipyard in the Philippines, he assured that local engineers could be trained, and experts dispatched from the Ulsan Shipyard would work alongside Malaysian shipyards to handle maintenance and minor repairs domestically, reducing dependency on South Korean support.
Regarding the construction of the vessels, Yun mentioned that the final build arrangement is negotiable with the Malaysian government. The options could vary, with possibilities ranging from complete construction in South Korea to a collaborative approach with significant involvement from local partners.
The RMN's 15-to-5 Transformation Plan, initiated in 2015, seeks to streamline its fleet from 15 classes of ships to five core combat vessel classes by 2050. The plan aims to enhance efficiency, reduce maintenance costs, and improve interoperability across platforms. The identified classes are Multi-Role Support Ships (MRSS), Littoral Combat Ships (LCS), Littoral Mission Ships (LMS), Patrol Vessels (PV), and Submarines. This consolidation aims to replace outdated assets with modern, versatile platforms to protect Malaysia's maritime interests, particularly in the South China Sea and surrounding waters.
The forum, taking place alongside the 3rd Korea-Malaysia Defence Industry Cooperation Seminar hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, brought together Malaysian defence officials and industry stakeholders to discuss naval modernisation and strategic partnerships.