HHI Proposes Five Naval Platforms Aligned With RMN’s ‘15-to-5’ Transformation Plan

By Mohd Firdaus Md Saisi

KUALA LUMPUR, April 21 (Bernama) -- South Korean naval giant HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Royal Malaysian Navy’s (RMN) "15-to-5" Transformation Plan through the offering of specialised naval platforms and comprehensive technology transfer.

HHI sales manager Jewon Yun said that the company has proposed five platforms aligned with the RMN’s 15-to-5 transformation plan, specifically emphasising the HDL-10,000 variant as a solution that meets all modernised requirements.

"The HDL-10,000 variant is HHI’s solution for the Multi-Role Support Ship (MRSS) requirement, which is one of the five core classes under the navy's plan," he told Bernama when met at the Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2026 exhibition here today.

He said the platform is designed for high-capacity sea-lift operations, capable of transporting 18 main battle tanks, three armoured support vehicles, 150 crew members and 580 troops.

The vessel also features a medical facility consisting of an operating room, ward, consultation room, laboratory and X-ray imaging based on NATO Doctrine Role 2, making it suitable for both military and humanitarian missions.

Yun emphasised that HHI’s strategy in Malaysia focuses heavily on the "Berdikari" (self-reliance) policy encouraged by the Malaysian government.

"Our future goal is to establish a capability in Malaysian shipyards so that those shipyards can build the MRSS by themselves in the future, achieving 'Berdikari,'" he said.

To support this, he said HHI has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Defence University of Malaysia (UPNM) for human capital development.

In addition to the MRSS, Yun said HHI is eyeing the Littoral Mission Ship (LMS) Batch 3 programme with its HDP-1500 Neo model to further support the fleet’s consolidation, Yun added.

He said HHI brings a strong regional track record, having secured contracts for 12 vessels with the Philippines and a recent four-vessel agreement with the Peruvian Navy.

"Since we have a proven record of transfer of technology to the Peruvian Navy, we are very confident that we can transfer our technology in a very effective way to the Malaysian Navy," Yun added.

The "15-to-5" Transformation Plan is a strategic restructuring programme by the RMN aimed at consolidating its ageing and diverse fleet of 15 different ship classes into five streamlined, modern categories to enhance operational efficiency and reduce maintenance costs.

-- BERNAMA