Govt mulls three missile systems after Norway’s NSM permit cancellation

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 — The Malaysian Ministry of Defence is in the final stages of assessing three potential surface-to-surface missile systems following the cancellation of the Norwegian government's export permit for the Naval Strike Missile (NSM). The selection of the new system will consider operational requirements, compatibility with naval vessels, costs, and the procurement timeline.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin assured that a final decision will be made once an option is agreed upon and the procurement agreement is signed. Meanwhile, the construction progress of the Royal Malaysian Navy's (RMN) Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) reached 80.72 per cent as of Sept 25, with a 9.19 per cent variance from the original target of 89.91 per cent.

The RMN's first LCS is expected to be delivered in April 2027, with the remaining four vessels to follow in August 2027, December 2027, August 2028, and April 2029, respectively.