Malaysia signs agreement to procure Turkish multi-purpose vessel
Worth $68.8 million, the MPMS will be “an important asset in enhancing Malaysia’s maritime enforcement capabilities,” Malaysian Ministry of Home Affairs Secretary-General Datuk Awang Alik bin Jeman said, according to a government announcement.
A member of the Royal Malaysian Navy uses a pair of binoculars to scan the sea for missing sailors from the USS John S. McCain off the Johor coast in Kota Tinggi, Johor in southern Malaysia. (Photo credit should read STR/AFP via Getty Images)
BEIRUT — Malaysia has signed a Letter of Acceptance to procure a Multi-Purpose Mission Ship (MPMS) from Turkish shipbuilder Desan, according to a government announcement.
Worth $68.8 million, the MPMS will be “an important asset in enhancing Malaysia’s maritime enforcement capabilities,” Malaysian Ministry of Home Affairs Secretary-General Datuk Awang Alik bin Jeman said, according to an online translation.
Bin Jeman said in the announcement that the cooperation between Turkey and Malaysia prove both countries’ commitment “in addressing increasingly complex maritime security threats, including foreign vessel incursions and cross-border criminal activities.”
The signing ceremony took place Friday at Desan shipyard in Ankara during a Malaysian delegation visit to Turkey.
The ship is 99 meters long and is capable of operating continuously for 30 days, according to the announcement. It also has “four fast interceptor boats (FIC), two unmanned aerial drones (UAVs), a helicopter landing deck, medical facilities and a detention centre” Director-General of the Malaysian Maritime Administration, Maritime Adm. Datuk Haji Mohd Rosli bin Abdullah, is quoted as saying.
This isn’t the first time in recent years Turkey and Malaysia have signed a naval deal. Just last year, the Malaysian navy contracted three Littoral Mission ships from Turkish shipbuilder STM.
“Malaysia’s ongoing pursuit of acquiring and leasing modern naval platforms reflects a critical response to its aging fleet, much of which dates back to the 1970s and 1980s and is ill-suited for today’s rapidly evolving maritime security environment,” Serhat Süha Çubukçuoğlu, an expert at Trends Research & Advisory in Abu Dhabi, told Breaking Defense.
He added that the Royal Malaysian Navy “faces a confluence of challenges — including maritime boundary disputes, China’s growing assertiveness in the South China Sea, and non-traditional threats like piracy, smuggling, and illegal fishing.”
Çubukçuoğlu highlighted the deepening defense ties between Malaysia and Turkey, which were formalized by a government-to-government memorandum of understanding for defense products procurement signed in June 2024.
“Malaysia’s broader defense engagement with Turkey now spans a range of platforms including UAVs, tanks, and naval vessels — illustrating a multifaceted partnership rooted in mutual strategic interests,” he said.
