Article Posted on : - Jul 12, 2010

The Scorpene attack submarine.

KUALA LUMPUR (BNS): Royal Malaysian Navy’s second Scorpene submarine 'KD Tun Razak' has arrived at the port of Lumut in Malaysia after a 64-day voyage from France.

The vessel, which set sail from France’s Toulon port on April 30, 2010, reached the Lumut naval base with an official welcome on July 2.

During its homeward journey, the submarine made four ports of call at Alexandria (Egypt), Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), Salalah (Oman) and Cochin (India).

The submarine will now head to the Malaysian Navy's submarine base in Teluk Sepanggar, Sabah, where it will go through scheduled maintenance before comprehensive sea trials in the tropical waters of the region, French company DCNS Group, which has built the vessel in partnership with Spain's Navanita, said.

The Malaysian government had signed a contract with France in 2002 to acquire two Scorpene submarines along with associated equipment and training.

The Royal Malaysian Navy had received its first Scorpene submarine – ‘KD Tunku Abdul Rahman’ – on September 3, 2009.

Scorpene is a diesel-electric attack submarine designed for anti-submarine and anti-surface ship warfare missions. It is equipped with anti-ship and anti-submarine torpedoes, and anti-surface missiles. The submarine features several advanced technologies, including in hydrodynamics, acoustic discretion and automation.

With a water displacement of 1,550 tonnes for a length of 67.5 metres, each Scorpene requires a crew of 31 and offers an endurance of 45 days.