Malaysia’s navy faces rough waters in South China Sea without Norway’s missiles

Malaysia’s navy faces rough waters in South China Sea without Norway’s missilesWhile Malaysia considers alternatives from ‘three to four countries’, analysts say an advanced missile system is crucial for its navy4-MIN READ4-MIN0ListenPublished: 5:48pm, 28 May 2026Oslo’s ban on a missile system for Malaysian warships may lead to further bottlenecks in the country’s crucial naval modernisation project due to a scramble for a replacement and hamper its capability to counter vessels encroaching on its exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea, according to analysts.The Malaysian navy has spent more than a decade waiting for its new littoral combat ships (LCS), a flagship upgrade meant to enhance its presence in the contested waters.A dispute over naval strike missiles built by Norway’s Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace arose after Oslo revoked a licence for their export to Malaysia, which said it had already paid about 95 per cent of a €126 million (US$146.4 million) contract for the system.Select VoiceSelect Speed0.8x0.9x1.0x1.1x1.2x1.5x1.75x00:0000:001.00x