105mm Light Gun for the Malaysian Army
USD166 Million Tender for 36 Lightweight 105mm Guns Signals Major Mobile Artillery Modernisation for the Malaysian Army
(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — The Malaysian Army has shown renewed interest in acquiring 105mm lightweight howitzers to fulfil pressing operational requirements, modernise its existing artillery regiments, and significantly enhance its mobile firepower posture across diverse terrain environments.
A formal tender was issued in October 2025 outlining the intention to procure 36 lightweight 105mm howitzers, with the programme carrying an estimated allocation of approximately USD 166 million.
The Malaysian Army currently fields 105mm artillery systems including the LG1 Mk III supplied by KNDS as well as the legacy OTO Melara Model 56 pack howitzers, both of which continue to serve within selected regiments.
Among the potential contenders for the programme are the LG1 Mk III by KNDS, the Boran lightweight howitzer developed by MKE, the KH-178 produced by Hyundai WIA, and the CS/AH2 system offered by Poly Technologies.
Attached below is a comparison sheet outlining the respective capabilities of the competing 105mm lightweight artillery systems under consideration.
Essentially, Malaysia’s operational environment—characterised by populated areas and dense jungle terrain—favours the use of lighter guns to ensure high mobility and air transportability across dispersed theatres.
For this aspect, the LG1 Mk III and MKE Boran are best suited due to their lightweight configuration and expeditionary design philosophy.
The KH-178 is employed as a conventional towed artillery system with no known capability to be transported by a light utility helicopter, while publicly available information remains limited regarding whether the CS/AH2 can be employed in sling-load operations.
Additionally, when manoeuvring over land, maximum safe towing speed becomes a critical operational factor that must be considered in planning rapid displacement and survivability.
The LG1 Mk III can be safely towed at speeds of up to 100km/h as it is equipped with an advanced braking system capable of executing emergency stops at high velocity.
This braking capability is not present on the MKE Boran and KH-178, which limits their safe towing speeds to not more than 60km/h under standard conditions.
There is insufficient available information regarding the CS/AH2’s gun-towing performance and braking safety at higher speeds.
In terms of ballistic potential, all the guns meet the Malaysian Army’s minimum operational requirement of achieving a firing range of at least 17km.
However, the KH-178 is capable of reaching up to 18km when utilising rocket-assisted projectiles, which extends its range but may reduce accuracy compared to standard ammunition.
The highest rate of fire among the contenders is delivered by the LG1 Mk III, which can achieve up to 16 rounds per minute, as previously demonstrated by the Belgian Army.
An additional advantage of the LG1 Mk III lies in its stabilisation platform, which enables the system to enter and exit firing positions rapidly while maintaining accuracy during high-rate engagements.
The KH-178 ranks second in rate of fire at 15 rounds per minute under optimal conditions.
The MKE Boran is capable of delivering only six rounds per minute, while there is insufficient publicly disclosed information regarding the sustained or burst firing rate of the CS/AH2.
In terms of digital integration with a fire control system, the LG1 Mk III employs a proven networked architecture with battery-level integration to deliver accurate and coordinated fire support during military operations.
The same fire control ecosystem is already utilised by the existing LG1 Mk III guns in Malaysian Army service, as well as on its 155mm G5 howitzers and 120mm 2R2M mortars operated by the mechanised regiment.
It is also worth noting that the Malaysian Army’s LG1 Mk III units have been fully integrated with in-service tactical radios to enable seamless communication within the broader command-and-control network.
The MKE Boran can be fitted with a fire control system supplied by Aselsan, while the CS/AH2 offers a fire control system as an export upgrade option.
The KH-178, which relies on older architecture and primarily utilises optical sights for firing, claims that a fire control system can be provided for export customers, although such integration may require additional modification.
The number of personnel required to operate each gun must also be factored into force structure planning, as it directly affects manpower allocation and transport requirements for a complete artillery detachment.
The LG1 Mk III requires the smallest crew complement at approximately three to five personnel.
The MKE Boran and CS/AH2 each require between four and five personnel to operate effectively.
The KH-178 has the highest manpower requirement, with a total of eight crew members including the driver responsible for towing the artillery piece.
Overall, the LG1 Mk III stands out as one of the most balanced, modern, and lightweight expeditionary artillery systems capable of fulfilling the operational requirements of the Malaysian Army.
The MKE Boran emerges as a close competitor to the LG1 Mk III but is constrained by a lower rate of fire that is approximately half of what the LG1 Mk III can deliver.
The KH-178, while offering marginally greater maximum range, lacks confirmed airlift capability using light utility helicopters due to its weight class and may require further integration work to incorporate a modern fire control system due to its older design.
As for the CS/AH2, insufficient publicly available information in several key performance areas makes it difficult to conduct a fully transparent comparison against the other contenders.
The LG1 Mk III is currently in service with Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Belgium, Canada, and Colombia.
The MKE Boran is operated by Turkey, Bangladesh, and North Macedonia.
The KH-178 is in service with South Korea, Indonesia, Chile, and Fiji.
The CS/AH2 is currently operated by Thailand. — DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA
