STM has launched RAJA LAUT (142), the second corvette being built for the Royal Malaysian Navy under the Littoral Mission Ship Batch-2 program.
The vessel was launched during a ceremony held at Istanbul Shipyard, marking another major milestone in Türkiye’s first corvette export project to the Asia-Pacific region.
The LMS Batch-2 program covers the construction of three corvettes for the Royal Malaysian Navy under STM’s prime contractorship. The first ship of the class, Tunku Laksamana Abdul Jalil (141), was launched on May 24, 2026. With the launch of RAJA LAUT only two weeks later, the project continues to progress at a rapid pace.
The third vessel of the program is planned to be launched in August 2026.
RAJA LAUT: The Second Ship of the Class
The second LMS Batch-2 corvette was named RAJA LAUT, meaning “King of the Seas.”
The name refers to Raja Laut, the second son of Sultan Muhammad Shah, the third Sultan of Selangor, from the Bugis Opu Daeng Chelak lineage. Giving this name to a strategic Royal Malaysian Navy asset reflects both maritime heritage and the symbolic importance of naval strength for Malaysia.
A Fast-Moving Türkiye-Malaysia Naval Program
The LMS Batch-2 project represents the first government-to-government defense procurement agreement between Türkiye and Malaysia.
Under the program, STM is responsible for the full project scope, including ship design, project management, construction management, material and system procurement, integration, testing and integrated logistics support.
The three ships are being designed and customized according to the operational requirements of the Royal Malaysian Navy and are being built in Türkiye with strong participation from Turkish defense industry companies.
Turkish Defense Systems on Board
The LMS Batch-2 corvettes will be equipped with a broad range of 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.
ROKETSAN’s ATMACA anti-ship missile and HAVELSAN’s combat management system will also be integrated into the ships.
With these systems, the LMS Batch-2 corvettes will provide the Royal Malaysian Navy with anti-surface warfare, air defense, electronic warfare and asymmetric warfare capabilities.
LMS Batch-2 Corvette Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Length Overall | 99.56 m |
| Maximum Beam | 14.42 m |
| Draft | 3.94 m |
| Displacement | Around 2,500 tons |
| Maximum Speed | 26+ knots |
| Cruising Speed | 14 knots |
| Range | 5,000+ nautical miles at 14 knots |
| Endurance | 14 days |
| Personnel Capacity | 111 |
| Aviation Capability | Helicopter deck and hangar |
| Main Gun | 76 mm naval gun |
| Anti-Ship Missile | ATMACA |
| Secondary Gun | 30 mm naval gun system |
Strategic Importance
The launch of RAJA LAUT shows that the LMS Batch-2 program is moving forward on schedule and with high production tempo.
For Malaysia, the project will strengthen the Royal Malaysian Navy’s maritime security, patrol, deterrence and combat capabilities.
For Türkiye, the program is strategically important because it demonstrates the country’s ability to export complete naval platforms together with sensors, weapons, combat systems and logistics support.
The project also deepens Türkiye-Malaysia defense cooperation and strengthens STM’s position as an international naval platform supplier.
With two ships now launched and the third vessel planned for August 2026, the LMS Batch-2 program has become one of the most visible examples of Türkiye’s growing naval export capability.
