STM has launched the first corvette being built for the Royal Malaysian Navy under the Littoral Mission Ship Batch-2 program, marking a major milestone in Türkiye’s naval defense exports to the Asia-Pacific region.
The naming and launching ceremony for Tunku Laksamana Abdul Jalil (141) was held on May 24, 2026, at Istanbul Shipyard. The vessel is the first of three LMS Batch-2 corvettes being constructed in Türkiye under STM’s prime contractorship.
The ceremony was attended by Queen Raja Zarith Sofiah of Malaysia, members of the Johor Royal Family, Malaysian Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Turkish Deputy Minister of National Defence Musa Heybetli, Vice President of the Presidency of Defence Industries and STM Chairman Prof. Dr. İhsan Kaya, senior officials from the Royal Malaysian Navy and representatives of the defense industry.
Türkiye’s First Corvette Export to the Asia-Pacific Region
The LMS Batch-2 program is described as the first government-to-government defense procurement agreement between Türkiye and Malaysia.
STM General Manager Özgür Güleryüz stated that the project has reached another critical stage after the contract signed in 2024. He emphasized that STM completed the steel-cutting and keel-laying phases in record time and has now launched the first ship of the class.
Güleryüz also noted that the second ship is planned to be launched in June 2026, while the third ship is expected to be launched in August 2026. All three corvettes are planned to be delivered to the Royal Malaysian Navy in 2027.
Tunku Laksamana Abdul Jalil
The ship was named after Tunku Laksamana Abdul Jalil, the fourth son of Malaysia’s King Sultan Ibrahim and Queen Raja Zarith Sofiah, who passed away in 2015.
Tunku Abdul Jalil was the first member of the Johor Royal Family in modern history to hold the title “Tunku Laksamana,” meaning Prince Admiral. The name carries symbolic importance for Malaysia and represents a legacy of service to the Malaysian people.
Designed for Malaysia’s Naval Requirements
The three LMS Batch-2 corvettes are being designed and customized by STM to meet the operational requirements of the Royal Malaysian Navy.
STM is responsible for the full project scope, including design, project management, construction management, procurement of materials and systems, integration design, installation, testing and integrated logistics support activities.
The ships are being built in Türkiye with strong participation from Turkish defense industry companies. This makes the program an important example of Türkiye’s ability to export not only naval platforms, but also a complete defense industry ecosystem.
Turkish Defense Systems on Board
The LMS Batch-2 corvettes will be equipped with several Turkish-made systems.
These include ASELSAN’s 30 mm MUHAFIZ remote-controlled stabilized naval gun system, CENK 3D search radar, ARES 2D electronic support system, AKREP fire control radar, chaff decoy system, identification friend-or-foe system and other electronic sensors.
The ships will also feature ROKETSAN’s ATMACA anti-ship missile and HAVELSAN’s combat management system, along with a 76 mm gun fire control capability.
LMS Batch-2 Corvette Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Length | 99.56 m |
| Displacement | 2,500 tons |
| Maximum Speed | 26 knots |
| Personnel Capacity | 111 |
| Aviation Capability | Helicopter landing platform |
| Main Missile System | ATMACA anti-ship missile |
| Main Combat System | HAVELSAN combat management system |
| Naval Gun System | 76 mm gun and 30 mm MUHAFIZ RCWS |
Strategic Importance
The launch of Tunku Laksamana Abdul Jalil is important for both Türkiye and Malaysia.
For Malaysia, the LMS Batch-2 program will strengthen the Royal Malaysian Navy’s maritime surveillance, patrol and combat capabilities at a time when regional naval modernization is accelerating.
For Türkiye, the project represents its first corvette export to the Asia-Pacific region and further strengthens STM’s position as an international naval platform supplier.
The program also highlights the growing depth of Türkiye-Malaysia defense cooperation. Beyond direct platform delivery, the project brings together Turkish shipbuilding, combat systems, sensors, missiles and integrated logistics support under one export package.
With the first ship now launched and two more planned to enter the water later in 2026, the LMS Batch-2 program is moving rapidly toward delivery and is expected to become one of the most important naval cooperation projects between Türkiye and Malaysia.
