Istanbul: The country's maritime defence and military industry marked a historic achievement with the launch of the Royal Malaysian Navy's (RMN) third Littoral Mission Ship Batch 2 (LMSB2) in Istanbul, Turkiye, on Sunday.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the military ceremony, steeped in tradition, was held at the Istanbul Shipyard and witnessed by the Sultan of Kedah, Al Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah.
The launch ceremony was officiated by the Sultanah of Kedah, Sultanah Maliha Tengku Ariff, as the Royal Sponsor, and accompanied by members of the Kedah royal family. The third modern warship in the LMSB2 series was officially named Tunku Osman Jewa and assigned the pennant number 143.
The RMN said the naming was the country's highest honour in recognition of the contributions and legacy of the late General Tan Sri Tunku Osman Tunku Mohammad Jewa. The late Tunku Osman was a member of the Kedah royal family and made history as the first Chief of Defence Force to be appointed from among Kedahans.
At the ceremony, the Defence Ministry delegation was led by Chief of Defence Force Gen Tan Sri Malek Razak Sulaiman and also attended by deputy secretary-general (Management) Datin Roszanina Wahab and Deputy Chief of Navy Vice-Admiral Datuk Badarudin Taha.
The RMN said the historic ceremony also marked the completion of the three-launch series for the LMSB2 vessels at the shipyard. "The launch of the third ship marks the culmination of the series, with all three strategic combat assets, namely Tunku Laksamana Abdul Jalil (141), Raja Laut (142), and Tunku Osman Jewa (143), now fully prepared to proceed simultaneously to the next phase.
"All the ships will now undergo sensor system integration, as well as the installation of modern warfare systems and weaponry," it said. In addition, the combat assets will undergo a series of Harbour Acceptance Trials and Sea Acceptance Trials.
The RMN also stressed that construction was progressing according to schedule, putting all three vessels on track to be officially handed over to the navy's fleet by the end of next year.