Malaysia is set to receive Norway’s indigenous Naval Strike Missile in March under a phased procurement program aimed at replacing the Royal Malaysian Navy’s 29-year-old Exocet MM40 Block 2 inventory.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin confirmed the timeline, noting that the missile is one of two new surface-to-surface systems being acquired as part of the navy’s modernization drive. The Kongsberg-developed weapon will arrive alongside Türkiye’s ATMACA anti-ship missile, which is currently under procurement and expected for delivery in 2028, according to New Strait Times.
Both missile systems are undergoing evaluation to verify their extended range, enhanced radar-evasion capabilities, and compatibility with advanced sensor networks.
The upgrades form part of Malaysia’s broader naval restructuring initiative launched in 2015, which aims to consolidate the fleet into five principal ship classes by 2050. The program includes the construction of five next-generation surface combatants optimized for operations in littoral environments. The first ship is slated for commissioning in December 2026, followed by the second in August 2027.
Naval Strike Missile
The Naval Strike Missile weighs approximately 400 kilograms (882 pounds), measures 4 meters (13 feet) in length, and has a 700-millimeter (28-inch) width. It uses a solid rocket booster and a Microturbo TRI-40 turbojet engine, and carries a penetrating blast-fragmentation warhead.
The missile can strike targets beyond 110 nautical miles (205 kilometers/127 miles) at speeds exceeding 1,100 kilometers (684 miles) per hour.
