The LG1 is a modern 105 mm towed howitzer designed and produced by GIAT Industries (now Nexter group) of France. The light towed 105mm gun is fully adapted to be used by rapid deployment units. Lightness, ruggedness and ease of handling are its major operational assets. In operation, the 105 LG1 has proven its unequalled reliability, mobility, manoeuvra bility and firepower. The gun has been used by the Belgian Army, Canadian Army, Colombian National Army, Indonesian Marine Corps, Singapore Army, and the Royal Thai Army. Current service version with Malaysian artillery is the LG1 Mk III fully digitised light howitzer, of which 18 were purchased for the Malaysian Army.
The LG1 howitzer is a 105 mm towed artillery piece that features both low weight and a high level of accuracy over long distances. The main advantage of the 105 LG1 MkII is its weight, 1 520 kg, making it by far the lightest gun of its category. This lightness in no way alters its robustness and its performances. The gun can be helitransported, airlifted, parachuted, airdropped or towed by a wide range of light 4-wheel drive vehicles. The gun was specifically designed for use by rapid deployment forces with attributes such as ruggedness, ease of operation and reduced weight.
The 105 howitzer has a split trail carriage and a 30 calibre ordnance that is fitted with a double-baffle muzzle brake. It can be towed with the 105 mm ordnance over the closed trails or with the ordnance deployed in the normal firing position. The operational life of the barrel is stated to be greater than 7,700 full load rounds. Operated by a five-man gun crew, which can be reduced to three gun crew. It can fire all NATO standard 105 mm ammunition up to a range of 18.5 and 19.5 kilometres (11.5 and 12.1 mi) using HE-ER G2 and US M913 rounds. The weapon can be loaded and fired at any elevation from -3 to +70° and also has a direct-fire capability out to 2,000 m
Nexter offers an optional system for the artillery environment (ballistic computer and inertial positioning and laying system) which is simple and adapted to flexible use of the equipment. The 105 LG1 can be integrated in all Fire Control Systems (all types of C31 system, etc). The current LG1 Mk II would be fitted with an inertial 3-D aiming and positioning system and muzzle velocity radar. It can also be connected to the EADS STAREM C3I system. This would be the Mk III. Further in the future are the Mk IV with automatic aiming and crew reduced to three and the Mk V with all of the earlier improvements plus automatic loading.
