Littoral Mission Ship (LMS) Batch 2 from Turkiye - An Analysis

Opinion: LMS Batch 2 from Turkiye - An Analysis




Danny Liew

TCG Burgazada in a training exercise in the Mediterranean Sea in 2020. Photo credit: USN.


On the 9th of February 2023, the Minister of Defence, Datuk Seri Utama Mohamad Hasan, informed the Dewan Rakyat that his ministry requested funds to procure at least three new ships for the Littoral Mission Ship batch 2. He intends to procure the ship directly from Turkiye via a government-to-government negotiation channel.

Options from Turkiye

Based on industry info, the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) is looking either at the Ada class corvette or a newer designed C-92 corvette. The Turkish Navy operates four Ada class Corvettes, with the Pakistani Navy and Ukrainian Navy having ordered another six. Turkmenistan Navy operates the sole C-92 Corvette.

C-92 corvette. Image credit: Dearsan Shipyard.

Moving Away from China's Sphere

If this is approved, this decision signifies RMN has decided to move away from procuring the platform from China. While this may not bode well to Sino - Malaysia's relationship, the decision will give RMN access to a western-based combat system and better integration with the rest of RMN's assets.


As mentioned in an earlier article, the current Keris class LMS are Chinese-made LMS equipped with Chinese-made systems and armaments. Western defence contractors are unlikely to be willing to integrate their systems with the existing LMS for fear of providing backdoor access to the Chinese system.

Cheaper NATO Standard Platform

Turkiye is part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). Therefore, their platforms need to meet NATO standards. Selecting a platform manufactured by a NATO member allows RMN to get a NATO-compliant standard platform.

Reliable Long Standing Defence Partner

Turkiye is a reliable defence partner to Malaysia. In the past, they had supplied the ACV300 Adnan armoured infantry fighting vehicle, the key technology partner to build and transfer the technology for the AV8 combat vehicle, and the Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) TAI Anka drones to the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF).

Break from Established Process

The government-to-government negotiation is a break from the past procurement processes. All past military asset procurement had required the principal defence contractor to appoint a local distributor. The local distributor is responsible for marketing the product, arranging the necessary logistics and training package, and being the recipient of the transferred technology. In the case of the troubled Gowind class Littoral Combat Ship and the previous Meko 100 class New Generation Patrol Vessel, this included the blueprint designs of the ships, with the intention for the shipyard to sell the vessel to the foreign market.


As much as I would like to see this becoming a reality, Malaysia has to bite the bullet and concede that we are no longer ready for such ventures. We are in dire need of more deployable vessels. With an ageing fleet and increasingly heated international scene, we can no longer afford the luxury of trying to build our ships.


For the record, RMN has six locally built Jerong class Fast Attack Crafts that did not result in any scandals. Local company Hong Leong Lurssen built the ships in Butterworth in 1973.

Diplomatic Front - China

On the diplomatic front, the procurement might disappoint China as this procurement will move Malaysia away from its circle of influence. But it is something Beijing should expect when both nations have overlapping claims in the South China Sea. In March 2013, the People's Liberation Army - Navy (PLA - N) conducted military training at Beting Serupai, about 80 nautical miles from Bintulu, Sarawak.

Diplomatic Front - Turkiye

The proposal to procure the vessels from Turkiye will benefit both nations in the long run. Turkiye intends to reassert its position as the leader of the Islamic world in the same way as the Ottoman Empire. Thus aligning with a moderate Muslim nation augurs positively for Turkiye. Turkiye is also part of the European Union (EU). Therefore it can become a gateway for Malaysian products to enter the EU since Britain has undergone Brexit.

Turkiiye is also a black sheep within the EU. The French lobby in the EU has seen boycotts against Malaysian palm oil. Turkiye provides not only an alternative corridor for Malaysian products but also a challenge against the French and German leadership of the regional entity.


But last of all, Malaysian assistance to the Turkish people during the recent earthquake tragedy has built massive people-to-people goodwill among Turkish to Malaysians.


Note:

Post-Ottoman Empire Turkiye played a role in influencing the earliest movement for independence among Malays in the form of Kaum Muda, modelled on Kamal Attarturk's Young Turks.



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