IRIA News

Turkish shipbuilder STM signed a deal with Malaysia to construct three vessels for the Royal Malaysian Navy under Malaysia’s Littoral Mission Ship (LMS) Batch 2 Project. The deal marks the first government-to-government defense collaboration between Malaysia and Turkey.

The agreement was formalized during a ceremonial event on June 10, 2024, attended by key officials from both countries. Turkish Defense Industry Chief Haluk Gorgun and Malaysian Defense Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin announced that STM (Savunma Teknolojileri Muhendislik ve Ticaret A.Ş.), a prominent Turkish defense company, would undertake the construction of the littoral mission ships in Turkey.

The construction for Malaysia’s ships is set to begin in 2024, with the first vessel expected to be delivered approximately three and a half years after the initiation.

“During the customization of the ships, products from a number of Turkish defense industry firms, including Havelsan, Aselsan, and Roketsan, will be used. I wholeheartedly believe that the LMS Batch 2 Project is just the beginning of long-term collaborations on naval platforms between the two countries,” Gorgun stated.

Türkiye ve Malezya arasında “Savunma Ürünleri Tedarikine İlişkin G2G Mutabakat Muhtırası İmza Töreni” ve Kraliyet Malezya Donanması için tedarik edilecek “Kıyı Görev Gemisi (LMS) Batch 2 Projesi Kabul Mektubu (LoA) Teslim Töreni”ni gerçekleştirdik.
Malezya ilk defa bir ülke ile… pic.twitter.com/apZw7LdKFy

— Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün (@halukgorgun) June 10, 2024

The project involves substantial contributions from several Turkish defense firms, emphasizing local industry participation. The vessels will be equipped with a range of advanced systems, including the 30mm Muhafiz remote-controlled stabilized gun system, the Cenk 3D search radar, the Ares electronic support system, the Akrep fire control radar, a chaff decoy system, an identification friend, or foe (IFF) system, and various electronic sensors.

Moreover, the ships will feature the Atmaca anti-ship missile, developed by Roketsan, alongside a combat management system and a 76mm gun fire control system from Havelsan. Notably, there was no information provided regarding air defense missiles.

STM’s General Manager, Ozgur Guleryuz, elaborated on the project’s timeline and the firm’s current engagements. He mentioned that after their ongoing work on naval platforms for the Pakistan Navy, STM is increasing its momentum with the construction of two corvettes for Ukraine.

Future collaboration

This agreement marks a significant milestone in Turkey-Malaysia defense relations, reflecting broader strategic intentions. Both nations have shown a keen interest in expanding their defense capabilities and fostering deeper military cooperation.

By involving Turkish defense firms like Havelsan, Aselsan, and Roketsan, the project not only underscores Turkey’s growing influence in the global defense manufacturing sector.

Gorgun explained that the LMS Batch 2 Project serves as a foundation for future collaborations and hinted at more extensive engagements in the future. As Malaysia modernizes its naval fleet, the successful execution of this project could pave the way for additional joint ventures, potentially involving more advanced naval platforms and broader defense equipment.

Specifications

Under the latest agreement, STM would deliver a variant of the Ada-class corvettes to Malaysia, which is a part of Turkey’s MILGEM project. The ship has been designed as a modern littoral combat ship with indigenous anti-submarine warfare and high-seas patrol capabilities, extensively using the principles of stealth technology in its design.

A typical Ada-class Corvette has the following specifications:

• Length: 99.56 meters
• Width: 14.42 meters
• Draft: 3.94 meters
• Displacement: Approximately 2,500 tons
• Maximum Speed: Around 26 knots
• Cruising Speed: 14 knots
• Range: Over 4,000 nautical miles at 14 knots
• Personnel Capacity: 111
• Endurance: 14 days