Paris-based Naval Group also agreed to continue negotiating the cost with Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd (BNS), the defence ministry (Mindef) said.

BNS is the defence ministry’s contractor tasked with building six frigates under the LCS project. It is a subsidiary of Boustead Heavy Industries Corp.

Naval Group, which was previously known as DCNS, was tasked with assisting BNS in the construction of six frigates for the navy. It was also responsible for the basic and detailed design of the vessels.

Mindef said that Naval Group’s commitment was a very significant and positive development for the LCS project.

“This also shows that all relevant parties are performing their respective roles to the best of their abilities,” the ministry said, adding that negotiations will be finalised by the end of December.

The LCS project is said to be the largest defence procurement in Malaysia’s history with a total cost of RM9 billion.

The project came under much scrutiny after the Public Accounts Committee revealed that not a single ship had been completed although Putrajaya had spent RM6.08 billion on it.

The project had been awarded to BNS through direct negotiations.