DESAN's steel cutting ceremony for MPMS 2 marks a significant step in enhancing Malaysia's maritime capabilities with advanced technology.
Turkey's prominent shipyard, DESAN, known for its commercial and military projects, held a steel cutting ceremony for the second Multi-Purpose Mission Ship (MPMS 2) to be constructed for the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA). The ceremony took place on February 11, 2026, at the ATLAS Shipyard operating under DESAN.
MPMS 2 will be produced as a sister ship with the same technical specifications as the first vessel built for the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency; however, it will also gain additional new capabilities. The 99-meter-long ship, which will be constructed in Turkey within 24 months using high-tech solutions from the Turkish defense industry and DESAN's experienced technical team, will be one of the two largest vessels in the inventory of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, alongside MPMS 1; both ships are planned to be delivered by the end of 2027.
Technical Specifications
The ship will have four fast intervention boats and two vertical take-off and landing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, an 11-ton capacity helicopter platform, a medical/health services area, a detention capacity for 45 individuals, and will be able to operate continuously at sea for 30 days with a crew of 70 and a passenger capacity of 30. The project, which will be certified by Turkish Lloyd, will integrate advanced technology components such as weapon systems, electronics, and communication systems, with contributions from leading firms in the Turkish defense industry, including ASELSAN and HAVELSAN, as was the case with the first ship.
In addition to all these elements, the second vessel will also include an unmanned/autonomous surface vehicle (Unmanned Surface Vehicle – USV) to be constructed by DESAN, marking the first export of an unmanned maritime vehicle (İDA) by DESAN.
Cenk İsmail Kaptanoğlu, Chairman of the Board of DESAN Shipyard, stated the following in his remarks:
"While the production processes of our Hisar Class Offshore Patrol Vessel and MPMS 1 projects continue at an intense pace in our shipyards, as of today, all preparatory works for our MPMS 2 project have been completed, and we have transitioned to the actual construction phase. It is our primary priority to ensure that these platforms, which will contribute to the protection of sovereign rights at sea, are completed and delivered ahead of the planned schedule.
While the construction activities of three military vessels, each 100 meters long, are ongoing, our commercial shipbuilding and repair-maintenance activities are also being carried out at a high pace.
With their strong infrastructure and experienced teams, DESAN and ATLAS Shipyards continue to add value to our country in military and commercial shipbuilding, as well as repair-maintenance and modernization projects; the integration of the unmanned maritime vehicle (İDA) included in this latest project will once again showcase our advanced technological capabilities on the international stage.
The MPMS-2 project will be one of the strongest indicators of DESAN's vision for global growth, its competence in the defense industry, and its enduring collaborative approach in the Southeast Asian market. We hope this important project will be beneficial for our country and for our brother and ally Malaysia."
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
