The Malaysian Army currently has a tender out for two regiments’ worth of 105mm towed howitzers to replace ageing OTO Melara Mod 56 guns. Several contenders showed their respective solutions at DSA 2026, held in Kuala Lumpur from 20-23 April.
KNDS of France could be considered the incumbent, since it – when still known as Nexter – supplied 18 LG1 Mk III 105mm artillery pieces to Malaysia via a 2018 contract. These were duly allocated to the 1st Regiment, Royal Artillery (Para).
KNDS is competing for this latest requirement too, which constitutes 36 artillery pieces. At its booth at DSA, the company exhibited one of the 1,650kg LG1 howitzers supplied to Malaysia.
KNDS has partnered again with Malaysian firm Advanced Defence Systems (ADS) for this tender. The two signed a memorandum of understanding at DSA 2026 covering cooperation regarding the LG1 and CAESAR. The MoU aims to increase the competency of ADS in assembling, integrating and testing the LG1 gun.
Asked whether having the LG1 already in service gives an advantage, Amaury de Poncins, Director of Global Export Business Development at KNDS, told Asian Military Review: “For sure in terms of compatibility, in particular with the existing [Thales] fire control system called AS4000, which is already deployed in the first regiment and currently installed on all systems such as the G5 from Denel.”
De Poncins also highlighted how KNDS has developed local capabilities related to maintenance and servicing through ADS. “It will only facilitate the partnership and the serviceability of the system in the future,” he shared.
Another strong contender is MKE of Turkey, which brought a Boran 105mm artillery piece to DSA 2026. This 1,775kg weapon system entered Turkish service in 2021, and it has also been delivered to Bangladesh and North Macedonia.
Regarding Malaysia’s requirement, Tolga Çelic, Deputy General Manager at MKE, told AMR, “We’re in that tender, and we’re shortlisted with Boran. We’d like to deliver Boran to Malaysia, and we’re ready to have strategic cooperation with Malaysia as well.” This includes maintenance and even extends to local assembly.
The Boran conducted a live-fire demonstration alongside other competitors in Malaysia in May 2025, where it fired twelve rounds in just 46 seconds. The air-transportable Boran can be ready to fire within one minute. MKE is also promoting the Boran to the Philippines.
Also of relevance to Malaysia, Hyundai WIA from South Korea displayed a scale model of its KH178 105mm towed gun at the same DSA exhibition.
Although a company representative declined to discuss Hyundai WIA’s interest in the Malaysian tender, it is notable that the company showcased an actual example of its mobile 105mm light self-propelled howitzer (SPH).
This 7-tonne weapon comprises a digitised KH178 105mm howitzer mounted on a Kia Motors KLTV K351 4×4 tactical vehicle. Such a solution offers superior mobility to a towed howitzer, and it can be transported under-slung from a Chinook helicopter.
This Malaysian tender for 36 105mm towed howitzers was issued in late 2025, and the selection of a winner is awaited.
Staying with artillery, Malaysia also issued a tender for a truck-mounted 155mm SPH and this closed in late 2025. Six systems were tested, and media reports indicate that KNDS’s CAESAR 6×6 and the Konstrukta Defence Eva M2 from Slovakia are the two most likely options.
The CASEAR has attracted 14 customers to date. Nearby, the Indonesian Army possesses three battalions of CAESARs, plus Thailand is also an operator of the French SPH.
Despite expectations, no SPH contract was announced at DSA 2026.
by Gordon Arthur
