Royal Malaysian Navy Launches Second Maharaja Lela-Class Frigate KD Raja Muda Nala
On 3 July 2025, the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) officially launched its second Maharaja Lela-class frigate (KD Raja Muda Nala) during a ceremony at the Lumut Naval Shipyard. The Queen Consort of Selangor (Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin) attended the ceremony and performed a naming ritual with sanctified water and officially named the ship after Raja Muda Nala (an 18th-century Selangor prince). The event underlined Malaysia’s pride in its home-grown frigate program and growing defense industry.
The new frigate is part of Malaysia’s locally built Maharaja Lela class, a program of six stealth frigates based on an enlarged French Naval Group Gowind design. Boustead Heavy Industries and the Lumut Naval Shipyard built the frigate, which can carry about 138 crew members. It is approximately 111 meters in length and has a displacement of around 3,100 tons. It has a range of about 5,000 nautical miles and uses a CODAD (combined diesel and diesel) propulsion system to achieve speeds of up to 28 knots (approximately 52 km/hr).
(Malaysia Navy)
The frigate carries modern combat systems and weapons. It is fitted with the French SETIS combat management system, Thales SMART-S Mk2 radar and CAPTAS-2 sonar, along with electronic warfare gear. For defense, Raja Muda Nala mounts a Bofors 57mm main gun and two 30mm cannons, plus anti-ship missiles and torpedo tubes. It will field eight Kongsberg Naval Strike Missiles for surface targets and has a planned vertical launcher for MBDA VL-MICA air defense missiles. The vessel also has a stern helicopter deck and hangar, enabling it to operate UAVs and helicopters up to about 10 tons and greatly enhancing its patrol, surveillance, and search-and-rescue capabilities.
The Maharaja Lela project was launched in 2011, and six ships were ordered in a MYR 9 billion contract under the Royal Malaysian Navy modernization plan. The first ship was launched in 2024 after years of stoppages as the program faced delays and budget overruns. As there is a need for advanced vessels, the government has decided to complete the ship class despite the setbacks. The launch of KD Raja Muda Nala is a major step in strengthening Malaysia’s naval capabilities and presence in regional waters.