Malaysia selects Turkiye as preferred alternative missile supplier for Navy’s LCS project, says defence minister

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 12 - The Royal Malaysian Navy has chosen Turkiye to supply an alternative to Norway’s Naval Strike Missile (NSM) for its Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) project, according to Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin. The decision came after the government assessed proposals from various nations, including Turkiye, France and Italy, based on factors such as price, delivery schedules and upfront costs.

Mohamed Khaled stated that Turkiye was the most suitable source for the missile, and the RMN will proceed with negotiations to finalize the deal. The Turkiye missile is the same type as those previously ordered for the LCS project, with an operational range of 240 kilometres and comparable explosive power, making it more effective than competing alternatives.

The cost of procuring new missiles would be significantly reduced, as part of the expense has already been covered within the LCS contract. Malaysia will only need to cover the cost of installing launchers and integrating the systems. The NSM procurement from Norway had stalled due to the Norwegian government failing to issue the required licence, despite Malaysia having paid for the missiles.

In response, the government is prepared to pursue legal action through arbitration, following the stages of dispute resolution outlined in the contract. Mohamed Khaled highlighted that Malaysia is not reliant on the outcome of the arbitration process and will seek a replacement for the NSM to meet the country's defense requirements while the Norway negotiations are ongoing.