Malaysia Charts Bold Maritime Future with Turkish-Built Littoral Mission Ships

Malaysia is poised to redefine its maritime defence posture with the planned 2026 debut of its second batch of Littoral Mission Ships (LMS), marking a transformational leap in capability, doctrine, and strategic outlook for the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN). Constructed at the Istanbul Shipyard in Türkiye, these state-of-the-art warships are not only Malaysia’s most advanced surface combatants to date but also a product of a deepening defence partnership between Kuala Lumpur and Ankara.

Announced by Malaysian Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin following his recent visit to Türkiye, the project involves three next-generation warships currently under construction with launch dates set for April, June, and August 2026. The vessels are based on the ADA-class corvette platform designed by Turkish defence giant STM, known for its operational success in both domestic and export markets.

“Construction is progressing smoothly,” said Minister Khaled in a Facebook statement. “At Istanbul Shipyard, I received a briefing on the construction progress of the three LMS Batch 2 vessels from STM’s leadership. The first ship is expected to be launched in April 2026, followed by the second in June and the third in August.”

These warships will dramatically bolster Malaysia’s ability to respond to conventional and asymmetric maritime threats, defend critical sea lanes, and participate in multilateral naval operations amid growing tension in the South China Sea.

Malaysia’s selection of Türkiye as its LMS Batch 2 partner signifies a major realignment in its defence procurement strategy. Traditionally reliant on Western suppliers such as France, the UK, and the United States, Malaysia is increasingly gravitating toward non-Western partners who can provide advanced systems with greater flexibility, affordability, and strategic collaboration.

The ADA-class platform—already exported to Pakistan (under the Babur-class program) and Ukraine—features modular combat architecture, high survivability in littoral combat zones, and multirole capabilities in anti-surface (ASuW), anti-air (AAW), and electronic warfare (EW) operations. Its performance in diverse environments has proven its resilience and operational maturity.

“The collaboration with Türkiye reflects a broader intention to diversify our defence partnerships,” explained a senior RMN official. “We’re looking not just for weapons but for long-term industrial cooperation.”

Central to the LMS Batch 2 initiative is an Industrial Collaboration Programme (ICP), a cornerstone of Malaysia’s push to localize defence technology. The ICP, expected to be finalized by year’s end, will focus on technology transfer, training, and potential co-production between Malaysian firms and Turkish defence contractors.

“Türkiye underwent a similar transformation before becoming a globally recognized defence producer,” Minister Khaled noted. “Through phased implementation of ICPs, Türkiye successfully developed its local defence industry. Malaysia has similar aspirations.”

This model of indigenous defence development has been at the core of Türkiye’s meteoric rise in the global defence industry. Over the last decade, Türkiye has transformed itself from a major importer into a leading exporter, supplying advanced systems such as drones (Bayraktar TB2), missiles (SOM, ATMACA), and warships to clients across Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe.

Malaysia’s ICP hopes to mirror this model by creating a sustainable domestic ecosystem, reducing foreign dependence, and building expertise in naval engineering, software integration, and high-end manufacturing.

The LMS Batch 2 vessels are not just technologically advanced—they are heavily armed. The most notable addition is the South Korean K-SAAM (Korean Surface-to-Air Anti-Air Missile), a modern point-defence missile system deployed via a 16-cell Vertical Launch System (VLS).

Developed jointly by South Korea’s Agency for Defence Development (ADD) and LIG Nex1, the K-SAAM—also known locally as “Haegung”—was designed to replace the American RIM-116 RAM. It entered full production in 2019 and is deployed on South Korean destroyers and frigates.

K-SAAM Specifications:

• Role: Point-defence against anti-ship missiles and aircraft

• Range: 20 km

• Speed: Mach 2

• Guidance: Dual-mode (active radar homing + infrared seeker)

• Platform Integration: VLS (16-cell launcher per LMS vessel)

With these specifications, the K-SAAM offers comprehensive defence against modern saturation attacks—particularly useful in congested littoral zones, where missile and drone swarms can overwhelm traditional defences.

In addition to robust air defence, the LMS Batch 2 will pack offensive punch in the form of Türkiye’s ATMACA anti-ship cruise missile, developed by ROKETSAN. Comparable to the Harpoon and Exocet systems, ATMACA offers longer range and smarter engagement protocols.

ATMACA Specifications:

• Range: 250 km

• Warhead: ~220 kg high-explosive

• Length: 4.3 – 5.2 meters

• Guidance: INS + GPS + radar terminal seeker

• Features: Sea-skimming flight profile, low radar cross-section, mid-flight update via datalink

What makes ATMACA particularly appealing is its price-to-performance ratio. Turkish officials claim it costs nearly 50% less than the Harpoon, allowing Malaysia to achieve more firepower per ringgit.

Beyond kinetic firepower, the LMS Batch 2 features an advanced Combat Management System (CMS), designed to fuse sensor inputs and weapons control into a cohesive digital interface. With a fully modular design, these warships can be configured for:

• Electronic Warfare (EW) modules

• Mine Countermeasures (MCM) packages

• Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) kits

The emphasis on modularity means the RMN can tailor its fleet to mission requirements, enhancing operational flexibility and lifecycle cost-efficiency. In times of natural disaster, these warships could double as supply and command platforms; in crisis scenarios, they could serve as high-readiness strike assets.

The timing of Malaysia’s LMS Batch 2 procurement is no coincidence. As geopolitical fault lines harden in the South China Sea, Malaysia finds itself navigating increasingly contested waters. Grey-zone tactics, such as maritime militia incursions, encroachments by coast guard vessels, and assertive posturing by major powers, have placed growing pressure on the RMN to modernize.

The LMS Batch 2 ships—fast, well-armed, and modular—are ideal for sea denial missions, maritime domain awareness (MDA), and high-seas constabulary roles.

“These new ships are a strategic necessity,” said defence analyst Prof. Shah Reza of the Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM). “They enable Malaysia to project presence, uphold EEZ sovereignty, and respond to coercive behavior without triggering escalation.”

Moreover, the acquisition reflects a regional trend toward indigenous and semi-indigenous force development. Similar paths are being taken by Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines, each seeking to hedge against external shocks and assert maritime autonomy.

Malaysia’s decision to align itself more closely with Türkiye—rather than traditional Western suppliers—sends a clear signal that it intends to carve an independent path in the defence domain. This is not a rejection of traditional partners, but an embrace of a multipolar defence market that offers more affordable, timely, and sovereign-compatible solutions.

The LMS Batch 2 also serves as a capability bridge—positioning Malaysia for future fleet programs, including possible destroyers or next-generation submarines. Their success will likely shape future procurement strategies, including whether Malaysia opts to co-develop future platforms or seeks strategic autonomy through local R&D.

Malaysia’s LMS Batch 2 at a Glance: