Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin highlights the need for modern assets following the launch of RMN’s third LMS Batch 2 vessel in Turkiye.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) needs to continue being equipped with modern and capable assets to face the increasingly complex maritime security environment, said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
He said the government is committed to ensuring the RMN has the necessary capabilities to defend the sovereignty and maritime interests of the country.
“In an increasingly complex maritime security environment, the Royal Malaysian Navy needs to continue being equipped with modern and capable assets.
“The government is committed to ensuring that the RMN has the necessary capabilities to defend the sovereignty and maritime interests of the country,” he said in a Facebook post today.
He said this during the launch of the third Littoral Mission Ship Batch 2 (LMSB2) vessel of the RMN, named Tunku Osman Jewa, which was launched in Istanbul, Turkiye, yesterday.
Mohamed Khaled said that the naming of the ship immortalises the legacy of the Kedah royal family and royal family member who was once Armed Forces chief, the late General Tan Sri Tunku Osman Tunku Mohammad Jewa.
The Sultan of Kedah, Al Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah, and the Sultanah of Kedah, Sultanah Maliha Tengku Ariff, graciously attended the naming and launching ceremony of the ship.
The launch of ‘Tunku Osman Jewa’ completes the series of construction of the three LMSB2 ships after the launch of Tunku Laksamana Abdul Jalil on May 24 and Raja Laut on June 7.
Mohamed Khaled said the programme also made history as the first Government-to-Government collaboration between Malaysia and Turkiye in the procurement of RMN warships.
“All three ships are expected to be delivered to the Royal Malaysian Navy by the end of 2027. The acquisition of LMS Batch 2 is part of the effort to modernise the RMN fleet through the 15-to-5 Transformation Plan,” he added.
