Defence minister Khaled Nordin said the first LMS is expected to be launched next April, followed by the second in June 2026 and the third in August 2026.

“The construction of the second batch of LMS marks the first procurement following the signing of the government-to-government memorandum of understanding for defence acquisitions during my official maiden visit to Turkey in June last year.

“The progress of this construction is important because it serves as a benchmark for the government’s new procurement approach,” he told reporters after surveying the construction at the Istanbul shipyard here on Thursday.

He was accompanied by navy chief Zulhelmy Ithnain and a delegation from the defence ministry.

He said once the vessels are launched into water, various systems will be integrated for use on-board before Malaysia takes full delivery of the three ships by the end of 2027.

He said the procurement of the three vessels would be followed by an industrial collaboration programme, which could significantly impact the local defence industry, including through the transfer of technology, to be finalised by the end of the year.

He said Turkey, before becoming a producer of defence products, also underwent a process of technology transfer from other countries before successfully developing its defence industry.

“Malaysia has the same aspirations. Hopefully, the good bilateral relations and strategic collaboration between Malaysia and Turkey can help propel the local defence industry and strengthen national sovereignty,” he said.

The second batch of LMS vessels for the navy is based on the Ada-class corvette design developed by STM, which is equipped for multiple roles. Each of the ships will be armed with Atmaca surface-to-surface missiles and air defence systems.