The Royal Malaysian Navy has awarded Norwegian defense contractor Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace a EUR124 million (approx. USD$153.2m) contract for the delivery of Naval Strike Missile (NSM) systems for its new littoral combat ships.
Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd is building the ships based on Naval Group’s Gowind-class design.
The six littoral combat ships (also referred to as Second-Generation Patrol Vessels SGPV) will each carry two quadruple NSM launchers. The latest contract is a follow-on to the agreement announced April 9, 2015 for NSM shipboard equipment. The NSM will be deck mounted and integrated to the SETIS combat management system provided by Naval Group.
“This contract provides the Royal Malaysian Navy with an important surface-to-surface-missile capability and confirms NSM’s very strong position in the international market. NSM is currently chosen by Norway, Poland, Germany and Malaysia”, says Eirik Lie, President of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace AS.
The country’s first littoral combat ship (LCS) was launched in a ceremony on August 24, 2017.
The six frigates were designed by French DCNS (now Naval Group) as a modified, enlarged version of the company’s Gowind corvette design.
At 111 meters in length, the frigates displace a little over 3,000 tonnes and have a complement of 18 officers and 100 sailors.
In addition to the NSM, the ships will be fitted with MBDA’s VL MICA missiles, a Bofors 57mm Mk3 gun in a stealth casing and an automated MSI Seahawk 30mm gun. For anti-submarine warfare, the ships will be fitted with J+S torpedo launcher systems, now delivered by UK-based company SEA.