Missile deal: M'sia weighing delivery timelines in search for alternatives

Malaysiakini : Malaysia is weighing delivery timelines in its search for alternative anti-surface missiles to arm the Maharaja Lela-class littoral combat ships, the first of which is due to be delivered in December.

According to Berita Harian, Defence Minister Khaled Nordin said that among the offers being considered are those from companies based in Italy, France, Türkiye, South Korea, the US, and Japan. However, he said Malaysia will first consider the available stock to ensure the wait time is not too long.

“The missiles will need to be ordered, but the problem is that new orders will take four to five years to complete. Perhaps the US is building its own ships, as well as Italy, so I want to ask first.

Veteran 1972 : Khaled tell you what, collect all the monies taken by Umno, problem solved, using that money to get all the LCS fully equipped! No need to bankrupt the nation by theft.

NewMalaysia : What happened to Scorpene?? Swept under the carpet as PMX is more power crazy than unveiling the truth??!!

Sealthedeal : How ridiculous. Malaysia will never dare fire at Chinese ships. What a mistake putting an UMNO man in defence. How many billions have been lost on the LCS and why are the MACC not prosecuting? The PAC report was damning.

A Little Bit Crazy : Alamak Minister, The economy is so bad now, and no one is going to conquer Malaysia la. Save that one billion, pass it to 33 millions rakyat, every one can get some money to buy nasi lemak la. Why waste money buying missiles? Who are we going to showoff to?

fernzthegreat : Malaysia does not need these missiles. It needs the blue water Indian Navy and the navies of the UK, Australia and New Zealand, part of the Five Powers Defence Agreement (FPDA), in local waters. The Indian Navy has been in Vietnamese waters since 2011. 

The Indian Navy, with visiting facilities in Sabang, northern Sumatra, and presence in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, guards the northern entrance of the Straits of Malacca. Singapore and Indonesia guard the southern entrance. India, Australia and Indonesia also guard the entrance of the southern Indian Ocean.

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