Türkiye has launched the first of three Littoral Mission Ship Batch 2 (LMS Batch 2) vessels for the Royal Malaysian Navy, marking a key milestone in a government-to-government defense program between Ankara and Kuala Lumpur.
The corvette, named Tunku Laksamana Abdul Jalil, entered the water on 24 May 2026 during a ceremony at Istanbul Shipyard attended by Malaysia’s Queen Raja Zarith Sofiah, who served as the ship’s royal sponsor. The program covers three corvettes based on the MILGEM Ada-class design, representing Türkiye’s first export of corvettes to the Asia-Pacific region.
STM is the prime contractor for the LMS Batch 2 program, responsible for design, construction, integration and delivery of all three ships in Türkiye. The vessels measure about 99.56 meters in length, 14.42 meters in beam, with a draft of 3.94 meters and a displacement of roughly 2,500 tons. They are designed for speeds above 26 knots and a range exceeding 4,000 nautical miles at 14 knots.
Malaysian defense authorities indicate that the program remains on schedule, with delivery of all three ships targeted by the end of 2027. STM plans to launch the second corvette in June 2026 and the third in August 2026, as Malaysia advances its naval modernization under the broader 15-to-5 fleet restructuring plan.