Malaysia will receive Norway’s Naval Strike Missile in March as part of a phased acquisition to replace the Royal Malaysian Navy’s 29 – year – old Exocet MM40 Block 2 stock.  Defense Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, who confirmed the schedule, said that the projectile is one of two planned surface – to – surface systems for the modernization effort.

The Kongsberg – developed weapon will be delivered in parallel with the ATMACA anti-ship missile, which is also under procurement and expected to arrive in 2028, according to New Strait Times.  Both sets of missiles are now being assessed to validate their long-range capability, improved radar evasion, and seamless integration with advanced sensor networks.

“This phased and prudent approach reflects the government’s commitment to modernising the navy’s capabilities in a realistic and sustainable manner, in line with national maritime security needs and current fiscal capacity,” Khaled Nordin said.

The missile upgrades align with Kuala Lumpur’s broader force restructuring program launched in 2015 to streamline its naval fleet into five core ship classes by 2050.  Developments in that initiative involve the construction of five next-generation surface combatants that could counter threats in nearshore domains.  The first vessel under the effort is scheduled for commissioning in December 2026, with the second expected in August 2027.

The Naval Strike Missile
Norway’s Naval Strike Missile weighs 400 kilograms (882 pounds), measures 4 meters (13 feet) in length, and has a width of 700 millimeters (28 inches).  The system is powered by a solid rocket booster and a Microturbo TRI – 40 turbojet engine, and has a warhead with penetrating blast and controlled fragmentation effects. The weapon can hit targets over 110 nautical miles (205 kilometers/127 miles) at speeds of more than 1,100 kilometers (684 miles) per hour.

• The Defense Post