Istanbul:<Text>

The Defence Ministry (Mindef) is evaluating offers from several countries to find the best solution to replace the naval strike missile (NSM) system whose delivery was cancelled by a Norwegian defence company. Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin said meetings were also held with several parties during his visit to Trkiye to obtain suitable proposals for consideration by the Royal Malaysian Navy.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohamed Khaled mentioned that there are currently three to four countries that have submitted offers to provide solutions for the NSM replacement. These offers are being carefully considered, especially with input from the Royal Malaysian Navy, which will evaluate the proposals before they are presented to the government. The assessment includes evaluating if the missile replacement would necessitate significant modifications to the ships already built.

Key considerations include the confidence and trust in the offe rs, potential structural modifications required, cost implications, and delivery timelines. The process is expected to take time due to its complexity and interconnected nature. Mohamed Khaled also mentioned pending developments regarding Norway, following a notice of demand sent to the Norwegian manufacturer. He plans to meet his Norwegian counterpart during the Shangri-La Dialogue 2026 in Singapore to discuss the issue further.

Norway's Foreign Affairs Ministry had previously withdrawn certain export licenses, affecting the NSM procurement agreement between the Royal Malaysian Navy and Kongsberg Defence &amp; Aerospace (KDA), valued at 124 million euros. The NSM is capable of long-range maritime strikes with a range exceeding 300 kilometers.