The KD Tun Razak, a diesel-powered Scorpene-class vessel, will take two months on its way to Malaysia's submarine base at Kota Kinabalu, Sepanggar Bay in the southern state of Sabah on the island of Borneo, the national news agency Bernama reported.

The head of the Royal Malaysian Navy, Admiral Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Jaafar, said the Spanish manufacturer Navatia, based in Cartanega, is putting the Razak through second-phase sea trials and will be handed over to the navy on Oct. 25.

The Razak announcement was made just after the arrival ceremonies for the country's first submarine, the KD Tunku Abdul Rahman at the naval base Port Klang.

The Rahman arrived at Port Klang, the first Malaysian port of call for the vessel, after nearly two months on its maiden voyage from the French Mediterranean port of Toulon where it was undergoing sea trials and crew training.

The Rahman is also a Scorpene-class vessel but was built in Cherbourg, northern France, by French shipbuilder DCNS in conjunction with Spain's Navantia. The submarine, due to arrive at Kota Kinabalu on Sept. 17, is under the command of Commander Zulhelmy Ithnain.

The 35 members of the Rahman's crew are part of the 150 Malaysian sailors, the country's first submariners, who have been training with DCNS since the deal was signed with France in 2002.

No details of armaments for the Rahman have been released but both vessels are believed to be ready for Blackshark wire-guided torpedoes and Exocet SM-39 sub-launched anti-ship missiles.

At the arrival ceremonies for the Rahman, Defense Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the defense spending for the coming year is expected to be lower than current spending, Bernama reported, but no figures were given.

Hamidi also said that the arrival of the Rahman was the end of a 25-year journey for Malaysia to finally acquire submarine capability. The Rahman is set to boost Malaysia's presence in the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean. The ship would also be used in joint military exercises with neighboring countries, but no details were given.

The Rahman is named after the country's first prime minister at independence in 1957. Tun Razak was Malaysia's second prime minister from 1970 to 1976. Malaysia is thought to have paid more than $950 million for both vessels.

Malaysian navy classification for the two 210-foot vessels is Perdana Menter. They have a maximum operating depth of 1,150 feet and a submerged speed of more than 20 knots. Their operational endurance is 50 days with six torpedo tubes for 18 torpedoes or missiles, according to analysts Naval-Technology.com.

Main suppliers for the ships include Calzoni for naval handling and aviation lighting; Cloudis for cabling and planning software; L-3 Communications ELAC Nautik for sonar, echosounders and underwater communications; and Schneider Electric for energy management.

Ownership of the state of Sabah where Malaysia's submarine base is located is disputed by the Philippines, although there is no ongoing diplomatic activity over its sovereignty by the two countries.

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