Malaysia's Navy faces 2-3 year delay in replacing anti-ship missile system

The Royal Malaysian Navy (TLDM) faces a significant setback in equipping its Littoral Combat Ships (LCS), with the replacement of its anti-ship missile (NSM) system now projected to take two to three years. This delay stems from the need to restart the entire procurement process after Norway revoked the export license for the originally intended weapon system.

Admiral Tan Sri Malek Razak Sulaiman, Chief of the Armed Forces, explained that the process involves a comprehensive reassessment of operational needs and financial allocations before tenders can be opened. Four nations, France, Italy, Turkey, and South Korea, have been identified as potential suppliers based on TLDM's technical evaluations. However, Malek Razak stressed that these are merely candidates, and no final decision has been made as the tender process is yet to commence.

Defense Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin had previously indicated that the technical evaluations for selecting a replacement system would conclude by the end of the month. Malek Razak emphasized the critical importance of acquiring a new system to maintain TLDM's readiness, acknowledging that the NSM cancellation has disrupted existing plans. "We do not want the readiness level to be affected," he stated, noting that while the ships are built and commissioned, they lack the necessary missile systems. He assured that the LCS vessels can still operate effectively for other tasks despite the delay in acquiring the new NSM system.