Naval Ships and Operating Systems

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- The Malaysian Navy has selected the ATMACA as the primary anti-ship missile armament for the service's incoming Maharaja Lela class frigates. The missile, designed by Turkish firm Roketsan, will replace the Kongsberg Naval Strike Missile (NSM) originally planned for the class. The ATMACA was competitively selected following an evaluation of proposals from Turkey, Italy, and France, according to Defense Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin. The Ministry of Defense will now begin negotiations with Roketsan to finalize a procurement contract. The Ministry cited the "price, delivery timetable, and initial costs" in its decision. The cost of the order is believed to be between $171.6 million and $220.7 million.

The missiles are bound for the Maharaja Lela class, internally designated the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), a series of five modern frigates designed by France's Naval Group, derived from the company's Gowind class design. The first of these warships is expected to enter service in early 2027.

The ATMACA was selected as an alternative to the Norwegian NSM, which had been the initially planned anti-ship missile for the Maharaja Lela class. In May 2026, the Norwegian government announced it had cancelled the Kongsberg contract with Malaysia due to new arms sale restrictions. New legislation mandated that the NSM could only be sold within the NATO alliance and among official NATO partner nations, of which Malaysia is not. The original contract for the Maharaja Lela class missiles was signed in 2018, with a follow-up to include the country's two Leiku class frigates signed in 2025. NSM deliveries were scheduled to begin in March 2026.

Malaysian officials protested the cancellation but initiated a search for a replacement missile. The options considered apparently include the Turkish ATMACA, the French Exocet, and the Italian Teseo. ATMACA had already been selected for Malaysia's Tunku class, or Littoral Mission Ship (LMS) Batch II, corvettes currently being constructed by Turkey's STM Shipbuilding.

Deliveries of the new ATMACA order could begin as early as 2029.

Source: New Straits Times
Associated URL: https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/11/1576237/updated-malaysia-picks-t%C3%BCrkiyes-atmaca-missile-replace-nsm-navy-lcs
Author: Fuad Nizam 

FALLS CHURCH, Va. -- The U.S. Navy has awarded BAE Systems a $138 million contract to continue propulsor production for the Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) program. The contract covers the manufacture of propulsor assemblies, engineering services, replacement parts, and associated support services. With this award, work will continue through September 2032. Work will be carried out at facilities in Louisville, Kentucky, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Jacksonville, Florida.

BAE Systems has supplied major propulsor assemblies for each of the 26 active Virginia class SSNs commissioned so far and is currently achieving the Navy's desired goal of two propulsor sets per year.

Source: BAE Systems
Associated URL: https://www.baesystems.com/en/article/bae-systems-awarded-138-million-contract-for-virginia-class-submarine-propulsors

QUITO - Amidst efforts to buttress the armed forces' material capabilities in the facing the mounting security threat posed by transnational criminal organizations on land and sea, Dutch shipbuilder Damen's Vietnam-based Song Cam shipyard launched the country's latest patrol vessel destined for service with the Coast Guard. Once final outfitting is completed and the ship is inducted into Ecuadorian service, the Isla Genovesa will be utilized to deter, surveil and interdict smuggling and other illicit activities inside Ecuador's martime territory, as well as perform humanitarian and search and rescue tasks as context requires.

Source: DataPortuaria
Associated URL: https://dataportuaria.com/en/ecuador/current-affairs/ecuadorian-navy-adds-coast-guard-vessel-isla-genovesa-to-its-fleet-44d0d8