Royal Malaysian Navy orders Rheinmetall optronics and FCR for its future Gowind Corvettes

Rheinmetall will be equipping Malaysia with a total of twelve fire control radars (TMX/EO Mk2) and six electro-optical systems (TMEO Mk2) for six new patrol boats. This is a breakthrough order for a new generation of high-performance systems whose basic components were all developed by Rheinmetall.


TMX/EO Mk2 - Fire Control Radar
(Picture: Rheinmetall)

TMX/EO Mk2 - Fire Control Radar

The TMX/EO Mk2 can track air, surface and fixed ground targets with extreme precision. The size of the entire radar is reduced to a single unit located behind the antenna. It is available with either X-band or Ku-band radar and a scalable electro-optical sensor fit (including IR camera, TV camera and laser rangefinder). By means of a third axis between the lateral and elevation axes, the TMX/EO Mk2 is able to track steeply attacking targets, even in very rough seas.


TMEO Mk2 – Electro-Optical Tracking Module Mk2
(Picture: Rheinmetall)

TMEO Mk2 – Electro-Optical Tracking Module Mk2

The TMEO Mk2 is a modern, powerful and flexible tracking system intended for integration within a wide-range of naval fire control systems. Designed with a scalable architecture, the TMEO Mk2 can be employed in a wide variety of tactical roles, and optimised to meet specific functional requirements. The high quality TMEO Mk2 tracking data can be typically used for weapon control, as a 3-D designation source, and for internal data processing. The TMEO Mk2 will carry out the following primary operation functions, using both active and passive electro-optical sensors: anti air engagements, surface engagements and surveillance operations.

Together with spare parts and training, the order also includes a transfer of know-how to Malaysia, which will enable local industry to take an active part in the project. Delivery of the systems will commence in 2015 and continue through to 2020.

The Malaysian Navy’s new “Second Generation Patrol Vessels Littoral Combat Ships” (SGPV LCS), play a significant role in safeguarding regional sea lanes, where piracy poses a major threat to commercial shipping. Fire control technology from Rheinmetall will form a crucial element in the OPV’s shipboard technology, controlling the vessel’s primary and secondary armament. This important order underscores Rheinmetall’s increasing importance as a supplier of advanced technology to the world’s navies.


Gowind model at Boustead stand during DSA 2012
(picture: Navy Recognition)

Malaysian Shipyard Boustead, partnered with DCNS has been selected to supply six new corvette as part of the SGPV LCS program.

Specifications of the Boustead built vessels (as of now) are as follow:

Length: 107 meters
Breadth: 16 meters
Full load displacement: 2,730 tonnes
Max speed: 28 knots
Crew: 106
Range: 5,000 nm
Endurance: 21 days

DCNS Gowind combat. The RMN Littoral Combat Ships are based on this version
(Video: DCNS)

Integrated with SETIS, a combat system derived from FREMM, Gowind Combat can tackle air, surface and submarine threats. The shock-resistant platform (built according to military standards), the small radar cross-section together with an excellent acoustic signature make it a high-performance surface combatant.

Gowind Combat can be operated by a limited crew and has been designed to offer great at-sea availability and reduced life cycle costs.

source Navy Recognition

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Malaysia Becomes DCNS’ 1st Customer for Gowind Ships

In October 2010, Malaysia’s Boustead received a letter of intent from their government for 6 “second-generation patrol vessels.” In January 2012, South Africa’s DefenceWeb reported that DCNS and its local submarine & surface ship partner, Boustead Naval Shipyard, had won a contract worth $2.8 billion to supply 6 Gowind family ships to Malaysia, which would have been the type’s 1st paid order.

To win, DCNS reportedly beat Dutch firm Damen, whose scalable SIGMA ships have been purchased by neighboring Indonesia; as well as TKMS of Germany, who supplied Malaysia’s 6 existing MEKO 100 Kedah Class OPVs and its 2 Kasturi Class light frigates. Now these Gowind ships’ exact configuration, and equipment set is more certain – but the contract isn’t.

The Gowind Family & Malaysia’s Choices

The Gowind family isn’t a single design. It’s a family of ships with some common systems and design elements, designed to scale from inshore patrol needs to heavy corvette/ light frigate designs. DCNS has been exploring partnerships with lower-cost foreign shipyards as part of its overall export strategy, and had been negotiating with Bulgaria along those lines. Memoranda now give it footholds in South Africa as well as Malaysia.

All Gowind ships are shaped for stealth. The single central mast replaces several sensor masts in other ships, and provides both improved radar cross-section signature, and a 360-degree view for radars and other sensors. The ship’s propulsion system is based on Combined Diesel and Diesel (CODAD), but has no gas exhaust chimney to emit infrared plumes, channeling exhaust into the water-jets instead. Those water jets also create better maneuverability in shallow waters, and contribute to high-speed performance.

Gowind Control/120 Designs like FS L’Adroit , on loan to France for 3 years as a promotional exercise, are 1,100t offshore patrol vessels, with minimal armament. L’Adroit carries only a light autocannon and non-lethal weapons, for instance. Gowind Presence inshore patrol vessels are even smaller.

On the other hand, Bulgaria’s interest in Gowind ships involved fully-armed 2,250t Gowind Combat/200 corvettes, carrying 57mm guns, vertical-launch cells, anti-aircraft and anti-ship missiles, and a helicopter up to the 10-ton class.

Malaysia’s Gowinds

Subsequent reports from Navy Recognition indicated that Malaysia is interested in the Gowind Combat corvettes. Provisional specifications appear to make them the size of small frigates, only slightly smaller than the USA’s Littoral Combat Ship:

Length: 107 meters
Breadth: 16 meters
Full load displacement: 2,730 tonnes
Max speed: 28 knots
Crew: 106
Range: 5,000 nm
Endurance: 21 days

The ship models shown at a recent defense exhibition show a full helicopter hangar. Malaysia’s Navy currently flies the AgustaWestland Super Lynx 300 naval helicopter, and Eurocopter’s AS 350 Fennec light utility helicopter. With only 6 of each in stock, however, and other naval platforms (esp. Lekiu & Kedah Classes) that need them, Malaysia may need to buy or transfer new airframes, if they want the Gowind fleet to have their own on-board helicopters.

Key Sensors

Early indications are that DCNS’ preference for its SETIS combat system will win the day, over the Malaysian Navy’s reported preference for Thales’ Tacticos.

• Thales SMART-S Mk2 3D multibeam radar
• Rheinmetall’s TMEO Mk2 – TMX/EO Electro-optical tracking and fire control system
• Thales Captas family for hull sonar
• ASW suite with towed array sonar

Weapons Array

Pictures from DSA 2012 Defense exhibition in Kuala Lumpur appear to show 12 vertical launch cells, mounted behind the main gun. These will be DCNS’ Sylver family. Sylver A35 cells are the most likely choice, given the ship’s size and expected weapon fit.

• BAE Bofors 57 mm Mk2 main gun
• MBDA VL-MICA air defense missiles and their ACL containers in the Sylver cells
• 8 of MBDA’s MM40 Exocet Block III anti-ship missiles mounted topside
• 2 of MSI’s remotely operated 30mm guns on top of the helicopter hanger

Contracts & Key Events

Oct 25/12: A report from Euronaval says the contracts remain unfinalized, though DCNS CEO Patrick Boissier tells Lignes de defense that the existing Letters of Attribution have value even so. The project is expected to take place over 10 years or so, with a number of arrangements to finalize for production in Malaysia and in France. Lignes de defense [in French].

April 20/12: Navy Recognition personnel at the DSA 2012 Defense exhibition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia look at a Gowind model, and talk to an official from Boustead about the ships’ expected statistics and fit-out. See above for the ships’ expected fit-out, and see the article for pictures of the model.

The official added that, contra earlier reports, contract negotiations are still in progress. Navy Recognition | DCNS re: its exhibits.

Jan 17/12: DefenceWeb reports Malaysia’s selection of DCNS’ Gowind ships for a $2.8 billion contract. Deliveries are expected to run from 2017-2020, if all goes well.

The DefenceWeb report is very unclear concerning the exact type and fit-out for these ships, except to state that the shipbuilders wanted DCNS’ SETIS combat management system, while the Royal Malaysian Navy wants the Thales Tacticos systems already on one of Malaysia’s Kasturi Class light frigates. It did not state how this conflict was resolved.

source Defense Industry Daily

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Boustead showcasing a DCNS Gowind corvette tweaked to Royal Malaysian Navy needs at DSA 2012

Navy Recognition team who was attending the DSA 2012 Defense exhibition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia was able to gather fresh information regarding the future Gowind corvettes of the Royal Malaysian Navy. While the negotiations are still ongoing, signature of the contract should happen soon according to an official from Boustead. The same person gave us an updated list of systems that will likely be found on those new corvettes.


Gowind model at Boustead stand during DSA 2012
(picture: Navy Recognition)

According to this source, the Gowind corvette for Royal Malaysian Navy will likely sports the following weapons:

• Bofors 57 mm Mk 2 for main gun
• MBDA Mica VL for air defense in the VLS cells
• MBDA MM40 BlkIII anti-ship missiles
• 2x 30mm guns from MSI-Defence Systems Ltd located on top of the helicopter hanger

Regarding sensors, the Malaysian Gowinds should come with:
TMEO Mk2 - TMX/EO Electro-optical tracking and fire control system by Rheinmetall
SMART-S Mk2 3D multibeam radar by Thales
Thales Captas for sonar (We could not get confirmation on the type: Nano or another model)

As expected, the combat managed system will be the SETIS by DCNS.



The generic Gowind designed by DCNS is a multi-mission corvette (100 metres, over 2,000 tonnes), A fully militarised platform, she has a comprehensive Mission Management System for full-scale multi-threat missions, including a complete ASW suite with towed array sonar and improved stealth and survivability.



Specifications of the Boustead built vessels (as of now) are as follow:

Length: 107 meters
Breadth: 16 meters
Full load displacement: 2,730 tonnes
Max speed: 28 knots
Crew: 106
Range: 5,000 nm
Endurance: 21 days

We were told however that these figures were subject to change (as well as the final hull design) depending on the final configuration picked by the Royal Malaysian Navy. First cut of the head of class is expect for early next year (2013).

source Navy Recognition

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