Khaled: Mindef studying other offers to settle anti-ship missile issue

ISTANBUL: The Defence Ministry (Mindef) is evaluating offers from several countries to find the best solution to replace the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) system, the delivery of which was cancelled.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said meetings were also held with several parties during his visit to Türkiye to obtain suitable proposals for consideration by the Royal Malaysian Navy.

“So far there are three to four countries (that have submitted offers)… countries that we are confident and believe are sincere and want to help us.

“We are holding meetings, especially with the navy, to provide solutions and the navy will certainly conduct evaluations of these four offers before they are brought to the government,” he told Bernama.

Khaled was speaking in conjunction with the naming and launch of the first Littoral Mission Ship Batch 2 (LMSB2) vessel, KD Tunku Laksamana Abdul Jalil, by Her Majesty, Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia, at the Istanbul shipyard.

Key matters being assessed include whether replacing the missile system would require major modifications to the structure of the ships that have already been built, he added.

“In our considerations, first is our confidence and trust in the offers from certain countries. Second is whether major modifications need to be made to the completed ships, third is the issue of cost and fourth is delivery,” he said, adding that the matter would take considerable time as it was all interconnected.

On follow-up action against Norway, Khaled said he had yet to receive any word about the latest developments after a notice of demand was sent to the manufacturer of NSM, adding that he would meet his Norwegian counterpart during the Shangri-La Dialogue 2026 in Singapore at the end of this month.

“We have informed them that we want to meet the Norwegian defence minister. Whether it is beneficial or not, that is fine. At the very least, I can meet him and inform him that we are unhappy with their actions,” he said.

Norway’s Foreign Ministry was reported to have withdrawn several export licences related to certain technologies as part of efforts to tighten the country’s export controls, which affected the NSM procurement agreement between the RMN and the manufacturer of the NSM system.

That deal was signed in April 2018 with a contract value of €124 million euros (RM571.9 million) to equip six new Littoral Combat Ships.

The New Straits Times had reported previously that among the alternatives to the NSM which could be considered were the French-made Exocet and Turkish Atmaca missiles.

The RMN already operates Exocet missiles, which in fact were part of the original design of the French Gowind-class vessels, on which the LCS is based.

Meanwhile, the Atmaca could also be viable as it was selected for the LMSB2 vessels.

© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd

المصدر: New Straits Times