Malaysia Confirms New 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer: Major Breakthrough in Long-Range Army Firepower

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — Putrajaya’s confirmation that Malaysia has finalised the long-range artillery system it intends to acquire next year underscores a decisive step forward in strengthening the Army’s modern fire support architecture, marking the beginning of a comprehensive transformation in mobility, precision-strike capability and survivability across multiple operational theatres.

The acquisition is anchored on the introduction of a next-generation 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer (SPH) capability, a transformational fire support asset designed to deliver highly mobile, precise and deep-reaching artillery effects across Malaysia’s diverse operational theatres.

The Defence Ministry has allocated RM50 million (approximately USD 10.6 million) under the 2026 national budget to fund the first phase of this long-range artillery programme, marking the beginning of a structured multi-year procurement cycle aimed at reshaping the Army’s fire support doctrine.

The introduction of a protected, mobile and long-range SPH platform constitutes a decisive shift from Malaysia’s legacy towed howitzer inventory, significantly enhancing mobility, survivability, pace of deployment and deterrence value in a rapidly evolving regional security environment.

A 155mm SPH is essentially a high-mobility artillery system mounted on a wheeled or armoured chassis, enabling rapid fire missions and near-instantaneous relocation—a “shoot-and-scoot” tactic that has become essential for survival in modern conflict zones increasingly dominated by counter-battery radars, UAV reconnaissance and precision-guided munitions.

As the Malaysian Army prepares to transition into a new phase of precision-driven artillery warfare, defence analysts view this procurement as a long-delayed yet strategically crucial enhancement designed to close critical capability gaps that have remained unresolved since the mid-1990s.

This landmark artillery upgrade also reflects Malaysia’s recognition that future land operations will be defined by rapid manoeuvre, high-tempo engagements and digitally enabled fire coordination, all of which require an artillery system capable of synchronising with modern ISR and command-and-control networks.

By embracing a wheeled SPH architecture optimised for Malaysia’s challenging geography, the Army is positioning itself to generate sustained fire support across dispersed and unpredictable battlespaces, from littoral zones threatened by grey-zone incursions to dense jungle terrain where mobility has historically been constrained.

The procurement further aligns Malaysia with global artillery modernisation trends, where wheeled SPHs have emerged as the preferred solution for mid-sized powers seeking a balance of range, accuracy, resilience and cost-effectiveness against technologically advanced adversaries.

Most importantly, the adoption of a next-generation SPH will serve as a strategic force multiplier, giving Malaysia the capacity to project calibrated and responsive firepower that reinforces national deterrence while ensuring credible defensive readiness in an increasingly contested Southeast Asian security environment.

Government Confirms Completion of Six-System Evaluation Ahead of Selection

Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Adly Zahari informed the Dewan Rakyat that the government has completed a series of comprehensive technical assessments involving six competing SPH systems, culminating in the selection of the platform that best meets Malaysia’s prioritised operational requirements.

He confirmed that “We have allocated RM50 million for 2026 to continue the procurement of our first 155mm SPH. The type has been finalised based on the tests we carried out and will be announced later.”

He further stated that the detailed technical evaluations were presented to the Procurement Board before being forwarded to the Ministry of Finance for financial assessment and approval, confirming the programme’s progression through all essential bureaucratic, administrative and technical stages.

He also revealed that the Army received procurement clearance from the Procurement Division on Nov 17, providing the necessary authorisation for the Ministry to proceed into granular negotiations with the chosen manufacturer.

He added that “The procurement is currently in the implementation stage, specifically at the price negotiation process, before being submitted back to the Finance Ministry. We expect the process to be finalised by 2026.”

This schedule suggests that the SPH contract could be signed as early as late-2025 or early-2026, with initial deliveries projected for the 2026–2027 timeframe depending on production queues, logistics coordination and system configuration.

The RM50 million allocation clearly represents the opening tranche of what is expected to be a multi-phased procurement programme involving subsequent allocations for additional units, operator and maintainer training, ammunition supply, infrastructure establishment and long-term support arrangements.

Speculation regarding the SPH contract intensified in 2024 when rumours circulated that the Ministry would formalise the acquisition during the DSA 2024 exhibition in Kuala Lumpur.

The momentum was driven by reports that the Ministry of Finance had issued a Letter of Intent (LOI) in March to Malaysian defence firm Global Komited, a subsidiary of the Weststar Group, for the procurement of the “EVA” 155mm SPH system.

This issue was raised in Parliament by Member of Parliament Datuk Awang Hashim, who asked the Defence Minister, “Is it true that the Ministry of Finance has issued an LOI worth RM805 million to Global Komited, a subsidiary of Weststar Group, for the procurement of the EVA 155mm self-propelled howitzer system?”

He further alleged that the Ministry of Finance had effectively selected the EVA system, outpacing other prominent contenders such as the CAESAR 155mm SPH produced by the French firm Nexter.

Alongside the EVA system, two other platforms were reportedly evaluated to meet Malaysia’s 155mm SPH requirement—the French CAESAR and the Turkish Yavuz developed by MKE—fueling a competitive and geopolitically significant selection environment.

Nexter and its Malaysian partner, Advanced Defence Systems (ADS), have invested aggressively in promoting CAESAR to the Malaysian Armed Forces, supported by its strong operational pedigree in Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

The CAESAR system has been fielded by Thailand and Indonesia, and Europe has supplied several CAESAR units to Ukraine, where their long-range precision performance has been extensively validated on the battlefield.

ADS had even signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to assemble CAESAR systems domestically in Segamat should the French platform be selected, opening the possibility of local industrial participation.

Technically, the 6×6 CAESAR variant proposed for Malaysia weighs more than 17 tonnes, has an operational road range of 600km, carries 18 rounds of 155mm ammunition and offers a maximum firing range of around 40km using standard high-explosive and extended-range projectiles.

Meanwhile, the “Yavuz” 155mm/52-calibre SPH, mounted on a 6×6 MAN truck and powered by a 400-horsepower engine, is capable of firing up to 40km, reaching speeds of 90km/h and integrating a fire-control system developed by Türkiye’s defence electronics leader ASELSAN.

Why Malaysia Requires a Modern Self-Propelled Howitzer Capability Now

The urgency of Malaysia’s SPH acquisition is driven by fast-changing regional security dynamics, evolving battlefield realities and long-standing systemic limitations in the Malaysian Army’s artillery ecosystem.

Southeast Asia is witnessing a rapid military modernisation cycle among neighbouring armed forces, coupled with increasingly assertive maritime manoeuvres and grey-zone operations in the South China Sea.

These developments intensify the need for deployable, responsive and survivable long-range firepower, particularly in sensitive regions such as Eastern Sabah, Sarawak’s highlands, and maritime chokepoints in Peninsular Malaysia.

For more than four decades, Malaysia has relied primarily on towed artillery systems such as the 105mm Oto Melara Mod 56 and the 155mm G5 howitzer.

While battle-proven, these systems are constrained by slow deployment speeds, limited mobility under contested conditions and high vulnerability to counter-battery strike packages enabled by modern ISR technologies.

Modern 155mm SPHs provide a decisive advantage through:

– High tactical mobility and fast displacement
– Armoured protection for crews
– Automated loading systems that reduce manpower burden
– Rapid time-on-target through advanced fire control
– Extended ranges beyond 40km with ERFB or Rocket-Assisted Projectiles (RAP)
– Seamless integration with UAVs for target acquisition and BDA

The ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict has underscored the battlefield supremacy of wheeled SPHs such as CAESAR, which have demonstrated remarkable survivability and precision in high-tempo operations dominated by drones and counter-battery radars.

This global shift toward wheeled SPHs further validates Malaysia’s procurement decision, reinforcing the need to adopt artillery solutions that match modern battlefield pressures and terrain realities.

Malaysia’s Six-System Comparative Trial: A Rarely Seen Evaluation Depth

The deputy minister’s disclosure that six systems were evaluated underscores a robust, data-driven approach that reflects international best practice in artillery procurement.

Although the official shortlist remains undisclosed, industry consensus identifies the likely candidates as:

– CAESAR (France)
– Yavuz (Türkiye)
– EVA / EVA M2 (Slovakia)
– Zuzana 2 (Slovakia)
– PCL-181 (China)

These systems were subjected to multi-axis trials that included:

– Live firing in high-humidity tropical climates
– Mobility tests on jungle tracks, steep gradients and clay-based roads
– Fording and water obstacle maneuvers
– Assessment of cabin ergonomics and crew workload
– Integration simulations with Malaysian C4ISR networks
– Lifecycle cost and maintenance modelling
– Ammunition handling and loading cycles
– Interoperability with RMAF airlift assets such as the A400M and C-130H

Malaysia’s complex geography—characterised by rainforests, highlands, swamps and coastal transitions—demands highly mobile artillery platforms with excellent off-road performance, influencing the favourability of wheeled platforms over heavier tracked systems.

The completion of these evaluations and the commencement of price negotiations confirm that Malaysia has arrived at a preferred platform through a measured and comprehensive procurement methodology.

Operational, Geo-Strategic and Long-Term Modernisation Impact

The 155mm SPH will serve as a transformational force multiplier for the Malaysian Army, immediately elevating the military’s long-range strike, deterrence and operational flexibility.

A modern SPH will allow the Army to conduct:

– Deep-strike operations beyond 40km
– Rapid counter-battery engagements
– Close support for mechanised and motorised brigades
– Coastal defence and littoral fire missions
– Precision artillery supported by UAV-guided adjustments

Its “shoot-and-scoot” capability dramatically reduces vulnerability to counter-battery fire, enhancing survivability against increasingly sophisticated surveillance and attack systems in the region.

The replacement of ageing towed artillery with SPHs will also stimulate doctrinal reforms in:

– Artillery brigade and regiment structures
– Fire-direction centre operations
– Joint targeting procedures between Army and RMAF assets
– Training syllabi for counter-battery and long-range precision strike
– Integration of artillery operations with cyber, EW and UAV elements

Geostrategically, the SPH acquisition strengthens Malaysia’s defensive depth amid rising maritime coercion, particularly around Beting Patinggi Ali, Beting Serupai and other vulnerable positions within Malaysia’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

The SPH will also bolster readiness against terrorism, piracy and cross-boundary infiltration threats under ESSCOM’s operational jurisdiction in Sabah.

Regionally, Malaysia’s SPH procurement enhances interoperability prospects with ASEAN militaries that already field advanced artillery systems, opening the door to expanded joint exercises, mutual training programmes and potential co-production agreements for ammunition or spare parts.

A Transformational Procurement with Enduring Significance

Malaysia’s decision to finalise the type of 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer it will procure marks a watershed moment for the nation’s defence posture and long-range artillery capabilities.

The RM50 million allocated for 2026 lays the foundation for sustained capability development, while the extensive evaluation of six systems reflects Malaysia’s commitment to selecting a platform optimised for national terrain, operational demands and long-term support frameworks.

With procurement now in the implementation and negotiation phase, Malaysia stands on the threshold of integrating a mobile, resilient and digitally networked artillery system that will fundamentally reshape fire support operations across the Malaysian Army.

The delivery of Malaysia’s inaugural SPH units in 2026 will usher in a new era of defence readiness—strengthening deterrence, safeguarding sovereignty and enhancing the nation’s capacity to respond decisively to complex and evolving security challenges in Southeast Asia.

Malaysia’s transition to a self-propelled artillery ecosystem also signals a structural shift toward network-centric warfare, where real-time data fusion between UAVs, ground sensors and digital fire direction centres will dramatically compress the Army’s sensor-to-shooter timelines.

This modernisation effort is expected to catalyse further doctrinal reforms, compelling the Army to recalibrate its existing artillery regiments toward high-mobility, high-survivability fire units capable of supporting expeditionary operations from the South China Sea to the highlands of East Malaysia.

By adopting a platform engineered for rapid displacement, automated loading and high-volume precision fires, Malaysia is positioning itself to counter emerging threats such as drone-swarm reconnaissance, precision-guided counter-battery systems and hybrid maritime incursions.

The procurement will also act as a catalyst for industrial participation, opening avenues for local defence companies to engage in maintenance, component fabrication and potential ammunition co-production, thereby strengthening national defence resilience and reducing long-term foreign dependency.

Regionally, the acquisition will elevate Malaysia’s standing within ASEAN’s progressively modernising military landscape, narrowing the capability gap with neighbours that have already fielded advanced SPH systems and enhancing interoperability for multilateral exercises and combined operations.

Most critically, the integration of a modern 155mm SPH will provide Malaysia with a credible and flexible long-range fires option capable of shaping the battlespace, deterring escalation and reinforcing Malaysia’s sovereign rights in strategically contested zones such as the South China Sea. — DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA