KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia has selected Türkiye's ROKETSAN ATMACA anti-ship missile to replace Norway's Naval Strike Missile (NSM) on its Maharaja Lela-class Littoral Combat Ships (LCS). The decision follows Norway's refusal to authorise the export of the originally contracted NSM missiles and launchers.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin announced the decision on November 12, 2026, confirming that government-to-government negotiations with Türkiye will begin. Malaysia evaluated missile proposals from Türkiye, France and Italy before selecting ATMACA based on price, delivery timelines and initial costs.
Malaysia to Use Existing ATMACA Orders
Instead of starting a new procurement, Malaysia plans to allocate part of its existing ATMACA order for the Royal Malaysian Navy's Littoral Mission Ship (LMS) Batch 2 programme to the LCS fleet. The LMS missiles are expected to be ready by 2028, potentially allowing LCS deliveries to begin in 2028 or 2029.
Nordin said a completely new procurement could cost between RM700 million and RM900 million and take around 30 months. Additional spending will mainly cover launcher installation and integration with the ships' existing combat management systems. Final technical arrangements and costs will be determined during negotiations.
The ATMACA is a surface-to-surface anti-ship missile with an approximately 250-km range. It can also engage land targets and features multiple guidance modes and resistance to electronic countermeasures.
Malaysia Seeks RM1 Billion From Norway
Malaysia originally signed a contract with Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace in 2018 for NSM missiles worth approximately US$145 million. The country had reportedly paid around 95% of the contract value.
However, Norway's updated defence export policy in 2026 prevented the required export licences from being issued, stopping the delivery of the missiles and launchers.
On May 19, Malaysia issued a formal letter of demand seeking approximately RM1 billion (US$257 million) in refunds and damages. Initial negotiations with Kongsberg failed to resolve the dispute. Malaysia has since established a dispute resolution committee, with arbitration in Kuala Lumpur possible if an agreement cannot be reached.
Nordin said the legal process could take several years, but Malaysia will proceed with ATMACA procurement without waiting for the compensation.
LCS Programme Update
The NSM issue has also affected the LCS programme schedule. The first vessel, KD Maharaja Lela, is now expected to be delivered in April 2027 instead of December 2026. The ship is undergoing sea trials, while construction of the five-ship fleet has reached approximately 80% completion.
Using ATMACA across both the LCS and LMS Batch 2 fleets could also simplify missile maintenance, logistics and support for the Royal Malaysian Navy.
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