Kasturi-class frigate

The Kasturi class is a ship class of two ships in service with the Royal Malaysian Navy. The ships are considered light frigates or large corvettes, and are called both in news sources.

The class comprises two ships, the KD Kasturi (F25) and KD  Lekir (F26). The class is named after the lead ship of the class, in honour of Hang Kasturi who is one of the five famed warriors of the Malacca Sultanate. Though smaller than the Rahmat class, the Kasturi class is more offensively capable.

Design
The ships were built by the Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) shipyard in Kiel, Germany. KD Kasturi and KD  Lekir were launched on 14 May 1983 and commissioned on 15 August 1984. Both ships are presently serving with 22 Corvette Squadron and homeported at TLDM Lumut.

The Colombian Navy's four-ship Almirante Padilla class is based on the same Blohm + Voss FS 1500 design, but with a different weapons and electronics suite.

Armament
The Kasturi-class have a 100 mm/55 DP main gun, while the anti-ship capability is provided by the MM40 Exocet SSMs. However, the Kasturi class lacks an anti-aircraft missile system, and rely on MANPAD systems for air defence. The FS1500 design, which is modular, allows for future upgrades.

During LIMA 2007, Boustead Heavy Industries Sdn Bhd, the current builder of the Kedah class received a Letter of Intent from the Malaysian Government for the Kasturi Service Life Extension Programme. It was expected that the 100 mm gun would be replaced with a medium calibre gun (either the 76 mm Oto-Melara or the Bofors 57 mm gun. The aft gun would be removed completely and a two MSI 30 mm guns would replace the Emerlec guns. No SAMs are expected to be fitted on the ship.

Propulsion
The Kasturi class is powered by a CODAD propulsion system, provided by four MTU diesels driving two shafts and developing 21460 hp driving two controllable pitch propellers. This gives a maximum speed of 28 kn, and a range of 7000 nmi at 14 kn.

Aircraft
The Kasturi class does not have a hangar facility, and thus does not have an embarked helicopter. The landing platform aft is suitable for an AgustaWestland SeaLynx 300 or the Eurocopter Fennec helicopter.

Service life extension
A Service Life Extension Programme (SLEP) was awarded to Boustead Naval Shipyard in 2009 to extend the service life of these surface combatants by another 10 years. The upgrade program includes:
 * TACTICOS CMS
 * Thales DA-08 air search radar
 * Mirador-IR optronic director
 * MAV marine navigation radar
 * 2 × Eurotorp B515 with A244S Whitehead ASW torpedoes
 * DR3000S ESM suite
 * Link Y MK 2.5
 * TERMA SKWS decoys
 * 8 × MBDA Exocet MM40 Block II
 * ATLAS Electronik DSQS-24C hull mounted sonar
 * Removal of 100mm A gun and replace with 57mm Bofors
 * Removal of Emerlec 30mm guns and replace with MSI 30mm DS30B guns