At least two more years before Malaysia gets new LCS missiles, says Chief of Defence Force

KUALA LUMPUR, July 7 — Malaysia will need at least two more years to acquire a replacement surface-to-surface missile system for the navy’s upcoming littoral combat ships (LCS), Chief of Defence Force Gen Datuk Malek Razak Sulaiman said today.

However, Malek Razak said the delay would not hinder the navy’s maritime readiness, as the LCS could first be equipped with existing weapons systems.

He said Malaysia would also showcase the LCS vessels alongside other recently procured defence assets, including the ANKA-S unmanned aerial vehicles and FA-50 fighter jets, at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2027 (LIMA’27) in April next year.

“It is a setback but we have action plans to facilitate and mitigate the setback,” Malek Razak said, referring to Norway’s decision to revoke export approval for the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) system supplied by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KDA).

“The fastest we can acquire NSM from a new company would require about two years.

“We will have to look back our defence budget and that process takes time,” he told reporters after attending the official launch of LIMA’27 at MITEC today.

Malek Razak said Malaysia has shortlisted France, Italy, Turkey and South Korea as potential suppliers for a replacement missile system following a joint operational evaluation by the Defence Ministry and the Royal Malaysian Navy.

However, he said the tender process has yet to be opened.

Yesterday, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said Malaysia will begin talks with KDA in August to seek an amicable settlement over the missile export cancellation.

Malaysia reportedly paid €129.8 million, or more than RM600 million, amounting to 95 per cent of the total contract value for the NSM system, which was initially slated for delivery in March 2026.

Nevertheless, Mohamed Khaled assured on Tuesday that the first LCS vessel would be delivered in December this year, but without a surface-to-surface missile system.