Malaysia will take delivery of Norway’s Naval Strike Missile in March as it moves forward with plans to replace its 29-year-old Exocet MM40 Block 2 inventory. Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin stated that the missile forms part of a dual procurement strategy to enhance the Royal Malaysian Navy’s surface warfare capability. Manufactured by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, the NSM will complement the ATMACA anti-ship missile being acquired from Roketsan, with deliveries projected for 2028. Both missile systems are undergoing assessments focused on long-range strike performance, low observability against radar detection, and compatibility with advanced naval sensor suites. The upgrades support Malaysia’s fleet transformation roadmap initiated in 2015, which seeks to streamline naval assets into five core vessel categories by mid-century. As part of that restructuring, five new surface combatants are under development, with commissioning dates beginning in late 2026. The Naval Strike Missile weighs approximately 400 kilograms and stretches four meters in length, powered by a booster and Microturbo TRI-40 engine. Capable of exceeding 110 nautical miles in range and traveling faster than 1,100 kilometers per hour, the missile is equipped with a penetrating and controlled-fragmentation warhead designed for precision maritime strikes.
