Turkish Firm STM Poised to Bag Contract for Littoral Mission Ship for Royal Malaysian Navy?

(DFEENCE SECURITY ASIA) – Leading Turkish defence company, STM, is “almost certainly” the chosen contractor for the Royal Malaysian Navy’s (RMN) construction program of three Littoral Mission Ships (LMS), according to industry sources who spoke to Defence Security Asia.

This procurement, valued at over RM2 billion in total, is being conducted through a Government-to-Government agreement.

The contract for the construction of three LMS Batch II vessels for the RMN is expected to be signed this year, with an additional five to be constructed during the 13th Malaysia Plan (2026-2030), bringing the total number of LMS Batch 2 ships in the RMN’s fleet to eight.

Previously, media reports indicated that the Ministry of Defence was conducting due diligence on several Turkish shipbuilding companies before deciding which would construct the LMS Batch 2 ships for the RMN.

Recently, RMN Chief Admiral Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Ayob stated that the RMN aims to finalize all contract document requirements for the procurement of the three LMS Batch II ships before the middle of this year.

 

The Ministry of Finance has approved the acquisition request for these ships, he added.

 “Once the Letter of Intent (LOI) is issued, negotiations on Technical Specifications and Contract Clauses will be held between the RMN and the selected firm.

The RMN aims to finalize all contract document requirements before the middle of this year,” he was quoted as saying by local media.

The Ministry of Defence had previously allocated RM235 million in the 2024 Budget to begin the construction process of three LMS Batch 2 ships with the Turkish shipbuilding company.

 The RMN already possesses four LMS Batch 1 ships acquired from China.

Unlike the Batch 1 ships, which are only equipped with small cannons, the eight forthcoming LMS Batch II ships will not only be larger but will also be equipped with anti-ship missiles, specifically the “Naval Strike Missile” (NSM).

Industry sources told Defence Security Asia that among the Turkish shipbuilding companies being evaluated by the Ministry of Defence for this project are STM, Dearsan Shipyard, ASFAT, and TAIS Shipyard, each presenting several LMS Batch 2 ship designs to meet the RMN’s requirements.

 STM has reportedly proposed the design of the Ada-class corvette.

 

The Ada-class corvette is an anti-submarine warfare and patrol vessel specifically developed for the Turkish Navy under the national warship construction program, MILGEM.

Powered by a Combined Diesel and Gas (CODAG) system consisting of one gas turbine and two diesel engines, it can reach a maximum speed of 30 knots and operate at a range of 3,500 nautical miles at 15 knots, carrying 93 crew members.

The corvette, with an overall length of 99.56 meters and a displacement of 2,400 tons, is equipped with the GENESIS warfare management system developed by HAVELSAN, Electronic Chart Precise Integrated Navigation System (ECPINS), Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS), SMART-S Mk2 search radar, X-band radar, and fire control radar.

 In terms of armament, it features an Oto Melara 76mm Super Rapid gun, two Remote Control Weapon Systems (RCWS) 12.7mm, and eight anti-ship missile launchers for Harpoon or Atmaca missiles developed by Turkey (with NSM missiles to be equipped if STM is selected), as well as anti-aircraft missiles, RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM), and two 324 mm Mk. 46 torpedo launchers. — DSA