Lumut: The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) has left it to the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) to assess alternatives to replace the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) system, after its supply was cancelled by a Norwegian defence contractor. Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the move could open the door to cooperation with friendly nations or increased engagement with local defence industry players, in line with efforts to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohamed Khaled emphasized that the Navy should determine the best option for a missile system that is compatible and can be integrated with the current combat systems. He underscored the importance of selecting partners that are willing to transfer technology and are considered reliable allies. This incident has reinforced the commitment to bolster the local defence industry and minimize dependency on foreign suppliers.

Mohamed Khaled revealed that replacing the NSM system would incur additional expenses, including training personnel and integrating a new system with existing platforms. The ships are already equipped with mounting points for the missiles, which might differ if a different system is procured from another country. This would lead to further costs related to training and ensuring seamless integration between the new and existing combat systems.

Despite these challenges, Mohamed Khaled assured that the situation would not impact the delivery schedule of the RMN's Littoral Combat Ships (LCSs), which are under construction. He confirmed that the LCS1 KD Maharajalela is set for delivery in December this year, with subsequent ships, LCS2, LCS3, LCS4, and LCS5, scheduled for delivery in August 2027, December 2027, August 2028, and April 2029, respectively.