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Malaysian Kasturi-class corvette KD Lekir successfully fired anti-ship missile.


| 2021

According to information published by the Royal Malaysian Navy on August 20, 2021, the KD Lekir successfully test-fired three anti-ship missiles to show its preparation with intrusions into its South China Sea territory.
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Russian Vyborg Shipyard laid the Purga ice class coastguard ship of project 23550 925 001 Kasturi-class corvette KD Lekir with Exocet anti-ship missile (Picture source: Facebook account of the Royal Malaysian Navy)


KD Lekir is the second ship of Kasturi-class corvette currently serving in the Royal Malaysian Navy. Together with her sister ship Kasturi, Lekir serves in the 22nd Corvette Squadron of the Royal Malaysian Navy.

The Kasturi-class corvettes are two ships of the Royal Malaysian Navy, KD Kasturi and KD Lekir. They were acquired in the mid-1980s. The two ships constitute the Malaysian Navy's 22nd Corvette Squadron, their homeport being Lumut. After about 25 years of service, they underwent an extensive modernization known as Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) starting in 2009, enabling them to be employed for another 10 to 15 years. They have since been returned to active duty.

The Kasturi class original armament was altered by the 2009 modernization. The 57 mm Bofors was moved from the aft to the bow, where it replaced the 100 mm gun as the main gun. No new aft gun was installed. The two manually operated Emerlec 30 mm twin-barrel anti-air guns were replaced with 30 mm single-barrel MSI DS30B guns. Anti-submarine capabilities were enhanced by replacing the dated Bofors 375 mm anti-submarine rocket launcher with two EuroTorp B515 triple torpedo launchers equipped with Whitehead A244-S torpedoes.

The Kasturi class is powered by a CODAD propulsion system, provided by four MTU diesel engines driving two shafts and developing 23,460 horsepower (17,490 kW) driving two controllable pitch propellers. This gives a maximum speed of 28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph), and a range of 5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph).

The MM40 missile is an upgraded version of the MM38 that began development in 1976. It is 5. 8 m long, allowing for the missile to carry the additional propellant needed to achieve an increased range of 70 km. The MM40 has a body diameter of 350 mm and a launch weight of 870 kg. MM40 Block 2 missiles are equipped with upgraded inertial navigation and control systems that allow them to fly 2-3 m altitude, differentiate between several targets, and are capable of performing preprogrammed maneuvers.


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