Malaysia receives first batch of French 105mm towed howtizers

Colombian Army soldiers with their LG1 105m light towed howitzer. Photo c/o Malaysia Defence.

Malaysian company Advance Defence Systems (ADS) has received kits for the assembly of six (6) LG1 105mm light towed howitzers from French defense firm Nexter Systems bound for the Malaysian Army (MA), as reported by IHS Jane’s.

The kits were part of a larger order for 18 howitzer systems made by the Malaysian Ministry of Defence (MOD) on April 2018. ADS is Nexter’s Malaysian partner and is in charge of assembling the kits and delivering them to the Malaysian Army’s 1st Royal Artillery Regiment.

Delays has hampered the delivery due to a decision by the current Malaysian government to review all defense contracts entered upon by the previous administration. All 18 howitzers were originally scheduled for delivery by February 2020, although Nexter confirmed that they would be able to deliver all 18 howitzers within 2020.

The contract includes the 18 fully digitizer LG1 Mk. III light guns, the BACARA compact portable ballistic computer for battery unit level, and an unspecified quantity of high explosive base-bleed extended range G3 ammunition, which have a maximum range of up to 17 kilometers.

The new LG1 Mk. III howitzers will start to replace some of the MA’s older Oto Melara Model 56 105mm pack howitzers.


[1] Jane’s Defence Weekly
[2] Shephard Media