Malaysia Launches £165M 105mm Light Gun Tender: Accelerating Asia-Pacific Artillery Modernisation

Malaysia Launches USD165 Million Light Artillery Tender as Army Modernisation Accelerates

Mohd Hanif Ismail - : Oct 13, 2025 - : 12:43 pm

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The Malaysian Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) has launched a significant open tender for the supply of 36 units of the 105mm Light Gun System, marking a crucial step in the nation's ongoing military modernisation efforts. The procurement, which includes the delivery, testing, and commissioning of the complete artillery systems for the Malaysian Army, is estimated to be worth RM697,699,800.00 (approximately USD$165.1 million). This large-scale acquisition project signals Kuala Lumpur's commitment to enhancing its rapid deployment and fire support capabilities.

The move comes against a backdrop of increasing geopolitical tension and an accelerating arms build-up across the Asia-Pacific region, where nations are upgrading their inventories to establish credible deterrence and multi-domain readiness. The Malaysian Army is currently in a determined modernisation phase, as outlined in its Defence White Paper (DWP), which seeks to transform its armed forces into a technology-based, interoperable 'force of the future'. This Light Gun tender follows previous efforts to modernise the artillery corps, including the 2020 delivery of the initial batch of Nexter 105 LG1 Mk III Light Towed Guns. Regional neighbours such as Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand already operate similar modern light artillery systems, making this an important capability update for Malaysia to maintain parity and operational effectiveness.

International defence contractors and suppliers are currently assessing the lucrative contract. According to the Kementerian Pertahanan Malaysia (Ministry of Defence Malaysia) tender documents, the formal bidding process, which is open to qualified suppliers, commenced on 13 October 2025 and is scheduled to close on 27 November 2025. Prospective bidders were required to attend a mandatory technical briefing held at MINDEF's premises on 17 October 2025. Key technical specifications for the contract mandate not only a Schedule of Compliance (SOC) but also a full, integrated Fire Control System (IFCS) network involving digitised gun integration, a comprehensive technical proposal for the communication system, a letter of support from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), and a compulsory live firing demonstration of the 105mm Light Gun. The new systems will be deployed across several army units, including ordinance depots and artillery regiments in Kuala Lumpur, Johor, and Pahang.

The tender is expected to draw bids from major global defence manufacturers. The Turkish-made 105mm Boran Howitzer, a system weighing approximately 1,700 kg and equipped with an integrated Fire Control System from ASELSAN, is widely considered a front-runner and strong contender for the contract. The procurement process strongly emphasises fully digitalised and networked fire support solutions, underscoring the Malaysian Army's pivot towards precision and rapid response artillery. This major acquisition is set to reshape the market for light artillery systems in Southeast Asia and solidify Malaysia’s defence spending priority on enhanced mobility and digital capability.