Istanbul Shipyard Offers Multi Role Support Ship (MRSS) to the Royal Malaysian Navy

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – Istanbul Shipyard has offered its Multi Role Support Ship (MRSS) to meet the Royal Malaysian Navy’s (RMN) MRSS requirements.

According to Turkish defence website Turdef.com, the RMN’s MRSS procurement includes three vessels for amphibious operations.

“Istanbul Shipyard has presented its Multirole Support Ship (MRSS) to the RMN’s procurement program, which involves three ships for amphibious operations.”

“The RMN’s MRSS procurement is part of the navy’s standardisation efforts aimed at acquiring new warships and reducing diversity within its inventory,” the Turkish defence website reported.

Istanbul Shipyard’s proposal includes two helicopter landing pads and a floodable lower hangar for amphibious vehicles/landing craft.

The MRSS procurement is scheduled under Malaysia’s 13th Development Plan (RMK13), which will run from 2026 to 2030.

According to the Turkish defence website, defence cooperation between Turkiye and Malaysia in naval platforms has made significant progress with the signing of a contract for three Littoral Mission Ship Batch II (LMS Batch II) vessels based on the MİLGEM Ada-class corvette design.

The LMS Batch II vessels will be equipped with Turkish systems, including the CENK 400-N AESA radar, ATMACA anti-ship missiles, and GÖKDENİZ 35 mm Close-In Weapon System (CIWS). STM will serve as the primary contractor.

In October, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Khaled Nordin stated that under the Future Force (AMH) initiative, each branch of the Malaysian Armed Forces has its own asset modernisation and readiness plan.

“Firstly, under the 15-to-5 Transformation Plan, the RMN plans to procure new assets such as the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), Littoral Mission Ship Batch II (LMS Batch II), and Multi Role Support Ship (MRSS).”

The RMN has an urgent need to acquire MRSS vessels as its current fleet is nearly 40 years old.

In recent years, several local and international companies have submitted their MRSS designs to the RMN.

Companies offering MRSS vessels include Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), Mitsui from Japan, PT PAL from Indonesia, as well as Damen Schelde and CSOC from China.

To strengthen operations, the RMN requires at least four MRSS vessels – two to be stationed with the Western Fleet (Lumut) and the other two with the Eastern Fleet (Sabah).

The MRSS proposed by Japan’s Mitsui weighs 13,000 tons and can transport 500 to 800 troops, equivalent to a battalion.

Additionally, the vessel can carry up to 16 main battle tanks, six armoured vehicles, and an ambulance.

Mitsui’s MRSS is also equipped with two Phalanx CIWS systems.

South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) introduced the HDL-13000 MRSS design, proposed to meet the RMN’s requirements.

The HHI HDL-13000 MRSS is 160 meters long, weighing 13,000 tons.

Its primary roles include logistics support and Humanitarian and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations, in addition to amphibious missions.

For amphibious missions, the HHI-designed MRSS can transport 16 main battle tanks, six multi-purpose armoured vehicles, and hundreds of armed troops.

The MRSS’s flight deck can accommodate up to three Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) H225M helicopters to support the vessel’s operations.

On April 19 last year, then-RMN Chief Admiral Tan Sri Abdul Rahman bin Ayob visited PT PAL in Surabaya, Indonesia.

PT PAL is one of Indonesia’s largest shipbuilders, producing various vessels, including the KRI Banjarmasin MRSS for the Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL) and the BRP Tarlac Landing Platform Dock for the Philippine Navy. — DSA