The Royal Malaysian Navy requirement was a substantial purchase[clarification needed] and attracted many bids from interested shipbuilders.
Australia’s Transfield group was a strong contender for the project, as the Royal Australian Navy was also then looking into the building of a class of patrol vessels.
The German Naval Group (GNG) won the bid to build the NGPV for the Royal Malaysian Navy and was awarded the initial contract 13 October 1998 for an initial six units based on the Blohm + Voss MEKO 100 design.
The German Naval Group is the major sub-contractor on the NGPV programme, and Hamburg-based Blohm & Voss will build the first two ships deliver them to Malaysia for final fitting-out and trials.
The German Naval Group is also to make a counter purchase obligation amounting to 11% of the contract value.
Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werft AG was purchased in 2005 to complete the triumvirate of HDW, NDW and Blohm + Voss in ThyssenKrupp Marine.