Malaysian Defence reported that the Malaysian Army has declared that the Nexter LG1 MKIII 105mm howitzer guns, operated by the 1st Royal Artillery Regiment, as fully operational. The Malaysian Army chief Jen Zamrose Mohd Zain made the formal declaration at the Asahan firing range in Gemas, Negri Sembilan on October 14, a year after the guns were received by the regiment. The Malaysian army receive the first six of 18 LG1 MKIII 105mm howitzer guns ordered on 18 April 2018 from French company Nexter. The number of guns bought is enough to equip one artillery regiment with another two more guns meant for the artillery school in Port Dickson for training and testing.
The 1st Royal Artillery Regiment (PARA) became airborne qualified when it was transferred to the 10th Para Brigade which stood up in November, 1988. The unit had operated the 25 pounders (88m gun) and the Oto Melara 105mm Pack Howitzer before transitioning to the LG MKIII howitzer guns. This elite airborne formation of the Malaysian Army is ready to perform rapid deployments. The Advanced Defence Systems Sdn Bhd (ADS) has taken delivery six of the 18 LG1 guns ordered from Nexter in 2018. The deal also includes ERG3 long-range 105mm munitions. The six guns, delivered in kit form, are being assembled at ADS facility in Jementah, Johor.
The LG1 is a modern 105 mm towed howitzer designed and produced by Nexter group of France. The LG1 howitzer is a 105 mm towed artillery piece that features both low weight and a high level of accuracy over long distances. Its lightweight construction gives the barrel a relatively short lifespan. The equivalent full charge (EFC) count is suggested to be approximately 7,500; however, during fire and practice, has yielded only around 1,500 EFCs. The gun specifically designed for use by rapid deployment forces with attributes such as ruggedness, ease of operation and reduced weight. It can fire all NATO standard 105 mm ammunition up to a range of 17 kilometres (11 mi) using HE-ER G3 base bleed rounds.
The 1LG1 is a 105mm gun 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 (PUMA or Bell 212 type) or parachuted by a tactical transport aircraft (C130-Hercules type). 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 gun of 105LG1 equips today six armies around the world: Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Belgium, Canada and Colombia.
