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Malaysian Navy's Littoral Combat Ships to be delivered this year without missiles
🇲🇾 Malaysia /Conflict & Security

Malaysian Navy's Littoral Combat Ships to be delivered this year without missiles

From Utusan Malaysia · () Malay

Translated from Malay, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • The Royal Malaysian Navy's Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) will be delivered as scheduled by the end of the year, despite missing surface-to-surface missile systems.
  • The Defense Minister confirmed that the delivery schedule remains on track, even without the NSM procurement.
  • Alternative solutions, including support from the Royal Malaysian Air Force and future deliveries of coastal patrol vessels with missile capabilities, are being explored.

The Royal Malaysian Navy's (TLDM) Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) are set for delivery by the end of this year as planned, even though they will not be equipped with surface-to-surface missile systems due to the cancellation of their procurement. Defense Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin affirmed that the delivery schedule for the first LCS remains unchanged.

Regarding the ship delivery, even though we do not have the surface-to-surface missile system, according to the hull, the delivery schedule is still as previously stated.

— Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled NordinConfirming the delivery schedule for the LCS despite missing missile systems.

"Regarding the ship delivery, even though we do not have the surface-to-surface missile system, according to the hull, the delivery schedule is still as previously stated," he said. The first LCS is expected in December 2026. The minister emphasized that the LCS vessels are equipped with various other weapon systems, and the absence of the surface-to-surface missile is not a complete disarmament.

LCS first should be in December 2026 although we do not have the surface-to-surface missile system.

— Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled NordinStating the expected delivery date for the first LCS.

Currently, the ships are fitted with a 57-millimeter cannon and possess anti-submarine warfare capabilities. They also include anti-air warfare systems and electronic warfare systems to counter potential attacks. The minister noted that in the interim, Malaysia can seek assistance from the Royal Malaysian Air Force (TUDM), whose F/A-18D aircraft can launch air-to-surface missiles like Harpoon or Maverick to compensate for the LCS's current gap in anti-surface warfare.

But I want to state, as I stated in my speech earlier, the LCS ship also has various other weapon systems. We just don't have the surface-to-surface missile.

— Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled NordinReassuring that the ships are still armed with other systems.

Looking ahead, new assets in the form of Littoral Mission Ships (LMS) Batch 2 are anticipated around late 2027. These vessels will be equipped with surface-to-surface missiles capable of striking targets up to 200 kilometers away. "When the second LMS Batch 2 ship arrives in October, November, December 2027, we will have surface-to-surface missiles with a range of 200 kilometers," Mohamed Khaled stated, expressing hope that alternative solutions for the NSM will be found while these new systems are integrated.

When the second LMS Batch 2 ship arrives in October, November, December 2027, we will have surface-to-surface missiles with a range of 200 kilometers.

— Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled NordinDiscussing future missile capabilities with the arrival of new vessels.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Utusan Malaysia in Malay. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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