Littoral Combat Ship Takes Centre Stage At Navy's 2026 Fleet Open Day

By Razif Rosli and Muhamad Azhar Tajudin

LUMUT, May 1 (Bernama) -- Displayed to the public for the very first time, the Royal Malaysian Navy's (RMN) Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) was the undisputed star of the 2026 Fleet Open Day, held in celebration of the Navy's 92nd anniversary.

For years, these vessels had only existed on television screens and social media feeds. But as a Bernama survey found, seeing them up close transformed curiosity into visible excitement and quiet pride among visitors.

One visitor, Mohamad Asraf Ishak, 38, from Kulim, Kedah, said the open day offered a truly meaningful experience, especially for young people and families, to better understand the Navy's role in safeguarding the nation's waters.

"For the longest time, we only saw warships, helicopters and Navy assets on TV or social media. Today, I finally got to see for myself the actual size of the ships, the defence equipment, and how Navy personnel carry out their duties.

"What captured my attention the most was definitely the chance to see the LCS 1 ship, something we can all be proud of. In fact, I believe the public should be given more opportunities like this, so we can truly appreciate the sacrifices of our armed forces and understand why national defence matters so much," he told Bernama. 

Earlier, the Raja Muda of Perak, Raja Jaafar bin Raja Muda Musa, graced the launch of the "Lumut Navy City Parade" in conjunction with the Royal Malaysian Navy's 92nd anniversary, at Dataran Lumut, setting the tone for a weekend of national celebration.

Running from today through May 3, the festivities are further brought to life at the Lumut Navy Base Jetty, providing visitors with a rare, hands-on opportunity to get up close with the Navy's diverse assets and truly understand its mission.

For Norsuhaila Mohd Yunus, a 23-year-old civil servant, the experience was nothing short of thrilling. Finally, she could see for herself the modern assets of the Navy, the weapon systems, maritime technology and the very tools used in safeguarding the nation.

"As a young person, I feel programmes like this are so important. They open our eyes to what the Navy actually does and why it matters. Before this, I only heard about these defence assets in the news. But today, I got to see their sophistication with my own eyes.

"Even though I could only take photos with KD Maharaja Lela in the background, I still felt so proud, alongside the other ships that were also on display," she said.

She added that the 2026 Fleet Open Day also helps spark young people's interest in national defence and security, while giving them valuable exposure to career opportunities within the military sector.

For Nurdini Munirah Ahmad Munif, 30, a visitor from Sabak Bernam, who came all the way with her friends just to see the nation's defence assets up close, the event was worth travelling for. 

"I've always had a deep interest in the military world. The moment I heard that the 2026 Fleet Open Day was being held, I started planning the trip with my friends. I was absolutely thrilled to board and see the Navy's ships for myself.

"What stood out the most was definitely the chance to see the LCS 1. This ship has a unique attraction, along with the other maritime assets on display. We were deeply impressed by the professionalism of Navy personnel and the increasingly proud modernisation of our national defence assets," she said.

Nurdini believes that such programmes serve not only as a source of entertainment and education for the public but also help bring the people closer to the nation's security forces.

-- BERNAMA