Defense Minister says Malaysia will negotiate with Norway through diplomatic channels on the supply of Naval Strike Missiles for the Navy.
kuala lumpur: Malaysia will engage Norway through diplomatic channels to seek clarifications and discuss appropriate measures on the supply of Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) for the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) Littoral Combat Ship (LCS).
Defense Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Nordin said the move was aimed at protecting the country’s interests following a report by the Malaysian Defense Portal regarding supply issues involving Norwegian firm Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace AS (KDA).
“The Ministry of Defense has entered into a procurement contract with KDA for the supply of NSM missiles to enhance the LCS capabilities of the RMN,” he said in a statement today.
He said the ministry has taken cognizance of the change in the Norwegian government’s stance on defense export clearance, which has impacted the implementation of the contract.
Khalid said the ministry is committed to ensuring that Malaysia’s defense preparedness and strategic requirements are not compromised while preserving the long-standing bilateral relations between Malaysia and Norway.
“Any follow-up action will be taken with due care and guided by the country’s strategic interests,” he said.
It was previously reported that the RMN plans to equip its LCS with two types of surface-to-surface (SSM) or anti-surface missiles, including the NSM from Norway.
