Malaysia has taken delivery of the first six of 18 105 mm Nexter LG1 Mk III light towed howitzer systems ordered in 2018 from French defence company Nexter. The Malaysian Ministry of Defense announced the acquisition of 18 units of Nexter LG1 for the Army during one of the largest defense services exhibition in Asia, Defence Services Asia exhibition 2018. This 3-year contract will start by November 2019 with the first delivery of 6 light guns and the last delivery is due to take place in February 2020. But deliveries were delayed, as the Malaysian government that took over following the May 2018 general election ordered a review of defence contracts signed by the previous administration.
Nexter’s Malaysian partner, Advanced Defence Systems (ADS), are currently being assembled in the southern state of Johor ahead of delivery to the Malaysian Army. ADS and Nexter, the French land defense leader, are business partners since 8 years and this contract is a new step of a fruitful cooperation. In support to the local artillery industry, 105 mm Nexter LG1 Mk III light towed howitzer systems will be assembled locally at the ADS Assembly facilities near Gemas, Negeri Sembilan. ADS is confident that this initiative will create self-reliance and improve the artillery capabilities among the armed forces. The package will also include long range ERG3 ammunition and Bacara Ballistic Computer.
The Nexter LG1 Mk III is a modern 105 mm towed howitzer designed and produced by GIAT Industries (now Nexter group) of France. The new version of the Nexter Systems 105 LG, the MK III is now on offer, with an inertial navigation unit used to guide, position and aim the canon. This system further reduces the time for getting into firing configuration. The 105 LG Mk III can be integrated into a firing control system (system C3l). The 105 Nexter LG1 Mk III has a 30 calibre barrel and a NATO standard chamber. It can fire all ammunition compliant with the standard, especially US M1 ammunition over a standard range of more than 11 km, and Nexter Munitions “Extended Range” ammunition over a range of more than 17 km.
The Nexter LG1 Mk III designed for intervention and rapid reaction forces. With a maximum range of 17 km, it can be towed by a light vehicle, transported by an average helicopter or parachuted by a tactical transport aircraft. This extreme mobility, thanks to its low weight (1650 kg), allows it to be deployed on any theater of operation as complex as it is (jungle, forest, mountains etc.). A crew of 5 men is enough to make it operational very quickly (a battery setup of 30 seconds) and to shoot at a rate of at least 12 rounds per minute. Combat Proven and qualified by the French Army, the Nexter LG1 equips today six armies around the world: Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Belgium, Canada and Colombia.
