Türkiye’s naval engineering company STM has initiated the construction of three corvettes for the Royal Malaysian Navy, as part of the Littoral Mission Ship (LMS) Batch-2 programme.
The keel-laying ceremony took place at the Istanbul Shipyard.
The three corvettes are custom-designed by STM to suit the specifications of the Royal Malaysian Navy and expected for construction in Türkiye, with delivery expected by 2027.
On 10 June 2024, Ankara played host to the signing of the government-to-government memorandum of understanding concerning the procurement of defence products between Türkiye and Malaysia.
This event also included the handover of the letter of acceptance for the LMS Batch-2 project. The steel-cutting ceremony for these corvettes was subsequently held in Istanbul on 4 December 2024.
As the main contractor, STM’s responsibilities encompass the entire project lifecycle, from design and performance to construction and final delivery.
This includes ship design, project management, procurement of materials and systems, integration design and assembly, testing, and Integrated Logistic Support.
Additionally, STM is tasked with preparing design and ILS documentation pertinent to the project.
The design of the three corvettes has been specifically tailored by STM to meet the operational needs of the Royal Malaysian Navy.
It complies with contemporary naval standards and classification society rules.
STM deputy general manager Bülent Soydal said: “We are pleased to strengthen our defence cooperation with friendly and brotherly nations. Today’s keel laying ceremony for the three corvettes we have started constructing under the LMS Batch-II Project for the Royal Malaysian Navy is a concrete reflection of the strong friendship and cooperation between Türkiye and Malaysia.
“These corvettes, which mark Türkiye’s first export of corvettes to the Asia-Pacific region, will enable the Royal Malaysian Navy to perform a wide range of maritime defence missions effectively. Based on the ADA-Class design, a platform that has proven its effectiveness in international waters, all three corvettes will be delivered by the end of 2027.”
The LMSs are capable of performing an array of duties such as anti-surface warfare, anti-air warfare, asymmetric warfare, and electronic warfare.
They will feature sensors, weapons suites, and command and control systems.
As the main contractor, STM will source equipment from within the Turkish defence sector.
These will include combat management systems from Havelsan, 3D search radar, fire control radar, IFF, 30mm gun, electronic support measures, and more.
