Damen has updated the design of its Sigma 9113 corvette to meet a Malaysian requirement for Batch 2 Littoral Mission Vessels. (Jon Grevatt/Janes)

Dutch shipbuilder Damen has unveiled an “upgraded” design of its Sigma 9113 light corvette/frigate for the Malaysian program to acquire additional Littoral Mission Ships (LMS).

At the Defense Services Asia 2022 (DSA 2022) exhibition in Kuala Lumpur on March 29, Damen said the updated design reflected the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) requirements for LMS Batch 2 vessels.

A Damen representative said the design of the Sigma 9113 ship it plans to offer to the RMN is similar to the four Diponegoro-class corvettes built by the Indonesian Navy, the last of which entered service in 2009.

However, the design that Damen will offer to Malaysia has several improvements, including the integration of a diesel-electric hybrid propulsion system, reduced section features, the integration of a helicopter hangar and modified on-board systems.

Damen said the design also provides for modular construction, which allows “technology transfers to Malaysia as well as the production of some modules in the Netherlands and others locally.”