Turkey’s ADA-Class Corvettes Use RAM, Malaysia Opts for K-SAAM

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – The United States Department of Defense has approved the sale of RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAM) to the Turkish Navy for use on its ADA-class corvette ships.

According to the U.S. Congressional Foreign Relations Committee report, the sale of 94 RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missiles is valued at approximately US$90 million (RM391 million).

Currently, the Turkish Navy operates five ADA-class corvettes which will be equipped with the RAM Point Defense System, which deploys RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missiles.

Additionally, Turkey is constructing two ADA-class corvettes for Ukraine.

The RAM is an infrared-homing air defense system designed to counter anti-ship missile attacks and aerial threats.

 

 The missile can reach speeds of over Mach 2, with an operational range of 9km.

 It is equipped with a 10kg fragmentation blast warhead and is launched using the MK49 RAM Guided Missile Launching System and the MK15 Mod 32 SeaRAM Close-In Weapon System.

At present, more than 165 naval vessels from 11 countries use this missile system, ranging from 500-ton fast attack crafts to 95,000-ton aircraft carriers.

In June, Malaysia’s Ministry of Defense signed a Letter of Acceptance (LOA) with Turkey’s Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB) for the procurement of Batch 2 Littoral Mission Ships (LMS) for the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN).

All three LMS Batch 2 vessels will be based on Turkey’s ADA-class corvette design.

 

However, will these RMN vessels be equipped with the RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile air defense system like the Turkish Navy’s ADA-class corvettes?

The answer is no.

The three LMS Batch 2 ships will reportedly be outfitted with K-SAAM (Korean Surface-to-Air Missile), also known in Korean as “Haegung.”

Developed by South Korea’s Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and LIG Nex1, the K-SAAM can fly at Mach 2 and hit targets up to 20km away.

It was developed to replace the RAM system, which was originally designed by Raytheon (now known as RTX), and provides close-in defense for naval vessels.

Each RMN LMS Batch 2 ship, to be built by Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik (STM), will feature a 16-cell Vertical Launch System (VLS) for launching K-SAAM missiles.

 

The K-SAAM features a dual-mode seeker, combining radar and infrared seekers, allowing it to operate effectively in maritime environments for both offensive and defensive roles against anti-ship missiles and fighter aircraft.

It also has inertial mid-course guidance capabilities.

Currently, K-SAAM is in service aboard South Korea’s Daegu-class frigates and the amphibious assault ship ROKS Marado of the Republic of Korea Navy. — DSA