Malaysia will engage Norway through diplomatic channels over Naval Strike Missiles supply for the navy, says defence minister.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will engage Norway through diplomatic channels to seek clarification and discuss appropriate measures over the supply of Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) for the Royal Malaysian Navy’s (RMN) Littoral Combat Ship (LCS).
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the move aims to safeguard the country’s interests following a report by the Malaysian Defence portal regarding supply issues involving Norwegian firm Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace AS (KDA).
“The Ministry of Defence has a procurement contract with KDA for the supply of NSM missiles to enhance the capabilities of the RMN’s LCS,” he said in a statement today.
He said the ministry has taken cognisance of a change in the Norwegian government’s stance on defence export approvals, which has affected the implementation of the contract.
Khaled said the ministry remains committed to ensuring that Malaysia’s defence readiness and strategic requirements are not compromised, while preserving the long-standing bilateral ties between Malaysia and Norway.
“Any follow-up action will be undertaken 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.
