Malaysia may fork out up to RM1bil more for new missile system
Defence minister Khaled Nordin says Putrajaya cannot wait for the recovered funds from the Norwegian procurement before moving ahead with a replacement.
Malaysia may allocate up to RM1 billion more for a new surface-to-surface missile system following the Norwegian government's cancellation of the export licence for the system meant for the navy's littoral combat ships (LCS). Defence Minister Khaled Nordin emphasised the need to consider factors such as cost, delivery timelines, and compatibility with existing combat management systems when replacing the cancelled missiles.
The government is exploring options from Italy, Japan, France, Turkey, and South Korea, after evaluating systems from Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace. Malaysia had already paid 95% of the RM634 million procurement price for the system, and the ministry is seeking compensation from Kongsberg for direct and indirect losses. Additionally, the defence minister highlighted the importance of strengthening Malaysia's defence preparedness in light of the growing presence of Philippine and US forces near Balabac Island in the southern Philippines.
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