Turkish Desan Shipyard to build another multi-purpose mission vessel for Malaysia

January 13, 2026, by Fatima Bahtić

Turkey and Malaysia have taken a significant step forward in strengthening their strategic defense and maritime cooperation with the signing of an agreement for a second multi-purpose mission ship (MPMS) for the Malaysian Coast Guard Command.

The agreement was formalized during a high-level ceremony held on January 7 at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, attended by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

The second vessel, designated MPMS-2, will feature enhanced operational capabilities, including advanced sensor suites, weapon systems, and modern communications equipment. Designed to support a wide range of maritime security missions, the platform will rank among the largest vessels in the Malaysia Coast Guard’s fleet, alongside its predecessor.

In a notable first for the program, the MPMS-2 project will also include the export of an unmanned or autonomous surface vessel (USV), marking a milestone for Desan Shipyard and highlighting Türkiye’s expanding footprint in the unmanned naval systems domain.

The agreement reflects the deepening defense-industrial ties between Ankara and Kuala Lumpur and aligns with Türkiye’s broader strategy of leveraging its domestic defense ecosystem to support allied and partner nations.

Desan Shipyard aims to contribute to regional maritime security while reinforcing Türkiye’s role as a reliable supplier in the global naval market. To remind, the Memorandum of Understanding for the first vessel in this class was signed last February.