STM Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik ve Ticaret AŞ launched TUNKU OSMAN JEWA, the final vessel of the three-corvette LMS Batch-2 project it is building for the Royal Malaysian Navy, at a ceremony in Istanbul.
The ceremony at Istanbul Maritime Shipyard was attended by Kedah Sultan Al Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin Ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah of Malaysia, Kedah Sultanah Maliha binti Almarhum Tengku Ariff, Chief of Defence Forces of Malaysia General Datuk Haji Malek Razak bin Sulaiman, Vice Presidents of the Presidency of Defence Industries İhsan Kaya and Mustafa Murat Şeker, Deputy Commander of the Royal Malaysian Navy Vice Admiral Datuk Badarudin bin Taha, and STM General Manager Özgür Güleryüz. Military delegations and defense industry representatives from both countries also attended the ceremony.
Renewal program for the Malaysian fleet
Chief of Defence Forces of Malaysia General Datuk Haji Malek Razak bin Sulaiman said in his speech that his country is a maritime nation and that renewing the fleet is an urgent need that cannot be postponed for security reasons.
Sulaiman said the Malaysian fleet’s strength and capabilities would increase with the entry of TUNKU OSMAN JEWA into service. He said the corvettes would contribute to the gradual replacement of aging vessels and strengthen the Royal Malaysian Navy’s ability to protect its maritime domain.
Sulaiman said the program’s pace of progress demonstrated the strength of the partnership between Malaysia and Türkiye and pointed to new areas of defense cooperation.
Türkiye-Malaysia defense cooperation
Mustafa Murat Şeker, Vice President of the Presidency of Defence Industries, said Türkiye considers Malaysia not only a friendly country but also a reliable strategic partner.
Şeker said the LMS Batch-2 Project, the Multi-Purpose Mission Ship Project, the Multi-Purpose Command Platform Project, whose contract is expected to be signed, and the planned shipyard investment in Malacca demonstrated the long-term nature of cooperation between the two countries. He said the importance of defense industry cooperation had increased because of new risks in the international security environment.
The ceremony for the delivery of the Letter of Acceptance concerning the Littoral Mission Ship Batch-2 Project to be procured for the Royal Malaysian Navy, along with the Intergovernmental Memorandum of Understanding on the Procurement of Defense Products between Türkiye and Malaysia, was held in Ankara on June 10.
Three ships launched in four months
STM General Manager Özgür Güleryüz said launching three vessels under the LMS Batch-2 program in approximately four months was a source of pride. Güleryüz said the vessels would contribute to the Royal Malaysian Navy’s operational capabilities after being equipped with advanced weapons and sensor systems.
Güleryüz said that, following completion of the launching phase, work would focus on outfitting, system integration, harbor acceptance tests and sea acceptance tests. He said all three vessels were targeted for delivery to the Royal Malaysian Navy by the end of 2027.
The project’s steel-cutting ceremony was held in Istanbul on December 4, 2024, and its keel-laying ceremony on April 8, 2025. The first vessel was launched on May 24, the second on June 7, and the third and final vessel, TUNKU OSMAN JEWA, was launched at the ceremony.
Ships named after figures from Malaysian history
The three corvettes, designed and customized by STM according to the needs of the Royal Malaysian Navy, are being built at Istanbul Maritime Shipyard in Türkiye. Their construction and outfitting are being carried out with the participation of Turkish defense industry companies.
The first vessel was named after TUNKU LAKSAMANA ABDUL JALIL, the son of Malaysian King Sultan Ibrahim who died in 2015 and held the title of “prince-admiral.” The second vessel bears the name of RAJA LAUT, a historical figure who played a role in the administration of Selangor and regional maritime trade in the 19th century.
The final vessel launched was named after Malaysia’s third Chief of Defence Forces, General Tan Sri Tunku Osman Tunku Mohammad Jewa.
Technical specifications of the corvettes
As part of the project, STM is carrying out design, project and construction management, material and system procurement, integration design, assembly, testing and Integrated Logistics Support activities. The company is also preparing design and logistics support documents for the project.
The vessels will feature the 30-millimeter MUHAFIZ remotely controlled stabilized gun system developed by ASELSAN, the CENK 3D search radar, the ARES 2D surface radar system, the Akrep fire-control radar, a chaff decoy system, the Friend-or-Foe Identification System and other electronic sensors.
The corvettes will also be equipped with the ATMACA anti-ship missile developed by ROKETSAN, as well as the Combat Management System and 76-millimeter gun fire-control system developed by HAVELSAN.
The vessels will be 99.56 meters long, weigh 2,500 tons and have a maximum speed of 26 knots. The corvettes will feature a helicopter landing platform, and each vessel will have a crew capacity of 111.
Türkiye is among the countries capable of designing and producing its own warships through the MİLGEM project, developed under the leadership of the Turkish Naval Forces and the Presidency of Defence Industries. The LMS Batch-2 project represents the application of this expertise to a shipbuilding program for the Royal Malaysian Navy.
