STM, Türkiye’s leading naval engineering company, has officially launched the construction phase of the Malaysian Navy corvette project with a keel laying ceremony held at Istanbul Shipyard. This event marks a significant milestone under the Littoral Mission Ship Batch-2 (LMS Batch-2) program, which includes the design and construction of three advanced ADA-class-based corvettes for the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN).
The ceremony was attended by top defense officials, including Datuk Lokman Hakim bin Ali, Secretary General of the Malaysian Ministry of Defence; Admiral Datuk Zulhelmy bin Ithnain, Chief of the Royal Malaysian Navy; and Bülent Soydal, Deputy General Manager of STM.
“This project reflects the enduring strategic cooperation between Türkiye and Malaysia,” said Soydal. “We are proud to be delivering the first ADA-class corvettes to the Asia-Pacific region, enhancing Malaysia’s naval strength and operational capacity.”
Strategic Defense Collaboration with Regional Impact
The LMS Batch-2 project was formalized through a Government-to-Government (G2G) agreement signed in June 2024 in Ankara. Following a steel cutting ceremony in December 2024, STM has now moved into the shipbuilding phase. The corvettes are expected to be delivered to the Royal Malaysian Navy by the end of 2027.
As the main contractor, STM is responsible for the entire project lifecycle—ranging from design and system integration to construction, testing, and final delivery. All three ships will be built in Türkiye and specifically tailored to the RMN’s operational requirements.
Platform Specifications and Mission Readiness
Derived from the ADA-class design, these corvettes are capable of operating in high seas and coastal environments. Their mission profile includes Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW), Anti-Air Warfare (AAW), Electronic Warfare (EW), and asymmetric operations.
Key Platform Features:
• Length: 99.56 meters
• Displacement: approx. 2,500 tons
• Speed: 26+ knots (CODAD propulsion)
• Range: 4,000+ nautical miles
• Endurance: 14 days at sea
• Crew Capacity: 111 personnel
Weapon Systems and Sensors:
• 76mm Main Gun
• 30mm Secondary Gun
• Surface-to-Surface Missiles (ATMACA, by ROKETSAN)
• Surface-to-Air Missiles
• Combat Management System (STM)
• Gun Fire Control System (HAVELSAN)
• 3D Search Radar, IFF, Fire Control Radar, and Electronic Warfare Suite (ASELSAN)
• Helicopter deck and hangar for a medium-sized helicopter
Reinforcing Türkiye’s Defense Export Footprint
The Malaysian Navy corvette project reinforces Türkiye’s emergence as a reliable defense exporter in the Asia-Pacific region. STM’s collaboration with major Turkish defense companies—including ASELSAN, HAVELSAN, and ROKETSAN—also demonstrates the technological maturity and export-readiness of Türkiye’s naval solutions.
This strategic program not only strengthens Malaysia’s maritime defense capability but also opens new avenues for long-term defense-industrial cooperation between the two nations.
