Audit Dept: LCS project 7.55pc behind schedule, risks handing over ship without full capability

The National Audit Department reported that the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) project is 7.55% behind schedule as of June 2026, causing potential risks to the planned Physical Handover (PHO) of LCS 1.

Delays range from 30 to 108 days, impacting full operational capability due to incomplete training and weapon systems.

The audit emphasizes that the complete operational readiness of the LCS depends on a Supplementary Contract set for December 2035, suggesting a gap beyond the initial Main Contract deadline.

The Auditor General's report recommends urgent recovery plans and enhanced project monitoring by the Ministry of Defence to ensure timely project delivery.

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 5 — The Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) project was 7.55 per cent behind schedule as of June 25, 2026, with delays ranging from 30 to 108 days, according to the National Audit Department (JAN).

In a statement on the Auditor General’s Report (LKAN) 2/2026, the department said the delay posed a risk to the Physical Handover (PHO) of LCS 1, initially scheduled for Aug 26, 2026, and the revised target of Dec 26, 2026.

“Should the PHO take place on either date, LCS 1 will be handed over without full operational capability, as training and weapon systems have yet to be completed.

“Full operational readiness of the LCS project depends on the Supplementary Contract, which can only be completed in December 2035, well beyond the Main Contract’s deadline of April 25, 2030. The delay in the PHO of LCS 1 will also affect the PHO timelines for LCS 2 through LCS 5,” the statement read.

The Auditor General’s Report (LKAN) 2/2026, covering the Federal Government’s Financial Statements for 2025, the activities of federal ministries and departments, as well as state governments, agencies, ministries and departments and the management of state-owned companies, was tabled in the Dewan Rakyat today.

JAN said an interim audit was conducted to assess the management of the LCS Project, including its physical and financial progress, contract management and payments, based on the terms of the contract and regulations in force.

The audit took into account a recommendation by the Public Accounts Committee in its parliamentary report dated Oct 9, 2023, which urged JAN to audit the LCS Project before the handover of LCS 1 to the Royal Malaysian Navy and table the findings in Parliament.

To ensure the LCS Project is completed and handed over with the required level of operational readiness, JAN recommended that the Ministry of Defence establish a realistic recovery action plan, with all critical activities under the Main Contract and Supplementary Contracts aligned with the LCS PHO schedule.

It also recommended that the Ministry ensure any conditional acceptance of the vessels clearly sets out the contractor’s obligations, completion timelines and responsibilities until the vessels achieve the specified operational capabilities.

It was also recommended that the Ministry of Defence strengthen project monitoring by assigning responsible officers and setting deadlines for resolving each critical issue until the project is completed. — Bernama

* Editor’s note: JAN is the Malay abbreviation for Jabatan Audit Negara (National Audit Department), while LKAN stands for Laporan Ketua Audit Negara (Auditor General’s Report).

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国家审计署报告称，截至 2026 年 6 月，濒海战斗舰 (LCS) 项目进度落后 7.55%，这可能对 LCS 1 的计划实物交接 (PHO) 造成潜在风险。

延误时间从 30 天到 108 天不等，由于训练和武器系统不完整，影响了全面作战能力。

审计强调，LCS 的完全作战准备取决于 2035 年 12 月签订的补充合同，这表明在最初的主合同期限之后存在一个缺口。

审计长报告建议国防部制定紧急恢复计划并加强项目监督，以确保项目按时交付。

吉隆坡，10 月 5 日——据国家审计署 (JAN) 称，截至 2026 年 6 月 25 日，濒海战斗舰 (LCS) 项目进度落后计划 7.55%，延误时间从 30 天到 108 天不等。

该部门在关于审计长报告（LKAN）2/2026 的声明中表示，此次延误对 LCS 1 的实际交接（PHO）构成了风险，该交接最初定于 2026 年 8 月 26 日进行，修订后的目标日期为 2026 年 12 月 26 日。

“如果PHO（交接仪式）在任一日期举行，LCS 1将不具备完全作战能力就交付，因为训练和武器系统尚未完成。

声明中写道：“LCS项目的全面作战准备取决于补充合同，该合同只能在2035年12月完成，远远晚于主合同2030年4月25日的截止日期。LCS 1的PHO（首舰验收报告）的延迟也将影响LCS 2至LCS 5的PHO时间表。”

今天，审计长报告（LKAN）2/2026 已提交下议院，该报告涵盖联邦政府 2025 年的财务报表、联邦各部委和部门的活动，以及州政府、机构、部委和部门和国有企业的管理情况。

JAN表示，已根据合同条款和现行法规，对LCS项目的管理情况进行了中期审计，包括其实际和财务进展、合同管理和付款情况。

审计考虑了公共账目委员会在 2023 年 10 月 9 日的议会报告中的建议，该报告敦促 JAN 在将 LCS 1 移交给马来西亚皇家海军之前对 LCS 项目进行审计，并将调查结果提交议会。

为确保 LCS 项目按要求完成并交付，达到所需的作战准备水平，JAN 建议国防部制定切实可行的恢复行动计划，使主合同和补充合同下的所有关键活动与 LCS PHO 进度计划保持一致。

该部门还建议，任何有条件验收船舶的协议都应明确规定承包商的义务、完工时间表和责任，直至船舶达到规定的运行能力。

报告还建议国防部加强项目监督，指定负责人并设定解决每个关键问题的最后期限，直至项目完成。——马新社

*编者注：JAN 是 Jabatan Audit Negara（国家审计部）的马来语缩写，而 LKAN 是 Laporan Ketua Audit Negara（审计长报告）的缩写。

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