Malaysia moves closer to VL MICA missiles procurement for LCS

The Malaysian Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) has officially issued a Letter of Acceptance (Surat Setuju Terima or SST) to MBDA France for the procurement of the VL MICA surface-to-air missile (SAM) system. The agreement was finalized during the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow 2026 in the United Kingdom. A formal contract is still pending. The document was signed by MINDEF Secretary-General Datuk Lokman Hakim Ali on behalf of the Malaysian government. According to an official statement issued by MINDEF, the procurement serves as a critical complementary contract for the Royal Malaysian Navy’s (RMN) flagship Maharaja Lela-class Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program, ensuring the surface combatants are equipped with point-defence air defence capabilities that align with operational demands. “The acquisition represents an essential complementary contract for the LCS project to ensure the vessels possess air defence capabilities that meet the operational requirements of the Royal Malaysian Navy,” MINDEF stated, noting that the agreement reflects Malaysia’s ongoing effort to reinforce its strategic maritime posture amid evolving regional geopolitical challenges. Following the announcement, Naval News reached out to MBDA regarding the milestone. A spokesperson for the European missile manufacturer provided the following statement: “A letter of agreement has been signed and a contract has to be signed without delay to secure VL MICA manufacturing timeline for the Royal Malaysian Navy.” Background on the VL MICA system Discussion for MBDA’s VL MICA system dates back to late 2011, when Malaysia officially chose DCNS (now Naval Group) and its Gowind 2500 design for the RMN’s Second Generation Patrol Vessel – Littoral Combat Ship (SGPV-LCS) program, ahead of rival offers such as the MEKO 200 and Sigma-class designs. The formal production contract for the LCS program was subsequently signed in July 2014 with local prime contractor Boustead Naval Shipyard (now Lumut Naval Shipyard). The Vertical Launch MICA (VL MICA) system provides 360-degree, all-weather point defence against a broad range of airborne threats, including anti-ship missiles, precision-guided munitions, aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Operating with both active radar (MICA RF) and imaging infrared (MICA IR) seeker options, the fire-and-forget system allows high-rate salvo engagements from vertical launch canisters integrated into the vessel’s hull. The legacy VL MICA missile features a maximum interception range of up to 20 km (~12 miles) while the newer VL MICA NG (which wasn’t ordered by Malaysia) doubles that range. The issuance of the SST marks an important step toward finalizing the weapons fit for the long-delayed LCS fleet, which is currently undergoing revised construction schedules under direct oversight of the Malaysian government and state-owned shipbuilder Lumut Naval Shipyard (LNS). The installation of the VL MICA system will address a vital capability gap for the RMN, equipping the new frigates to operate effectively in high-intensity maritime environments. The first ship-in-class started sea trials in April 2026, while the third vessel in the program was launched in February. MINDEF and the RMN seemingly moved much faster with the LMS Batch II program, having inked the contract with South Korea’s LIG Defense & Aerospace for the Haegung (해궁 / K-SAAM) SAM in April 2026 while all ships of the program are still in production in Turkey while the shipbuilding program contract was inked in 2024.