Malaysia Lines Up Self-Propelled Howitzer Procurement

MALAYSIA is expected to finalise its long-delayed procurement of 155mm self-propelled howiters (SPH) for the Malaysian Army. This was confirmed by the country’s deputy defence minister Adly Zahari in a parliamentary session.

According to the deputy minister, the choice of SPH has already been made with the procurement currently at the price negotiation stage before it can be submitted to the finance ministry. “I believe this process can be finalised by next year, or potentially as early as the end of this year”.

Additionally, he added that six SPH platforms that are available on the market had already undergone operational evaluations by the Army, whose findings were presented to the Procurement Board before submission to the finance ministry for endorsement.

“This evaluation process is crucial to ensure the Army acquires a system that genuinely meets its operational and training needs, in addition to selecting a proven, battle-tested asset.

Though officials have yet to comment on the selected SPH model, the decision is likely to be announced at next year’s Defence Services Asia & National Security Asia (DSA & NATSEC Asia) 2026 in MITEC Exhibition Centre, Kuala Lumpur from April 20-23.

European powerhouse KNDS was speculated as the frontrunner for the programme which has offered its combat-proven CAESARs to Malaysia since the 1990s when the programme was first outlined. Since then, KNDS has received orders for over 720 CAESARs from 14 countries, with an estimated 120 or so of the CAESARs excelling on the battlefields of Ukraine.

Currently, the CAESAR is available on 6×6 and 8×8 wheeled trucks with development of the new Mk II 6×6 with upgraded ballistic protection and performance close to completion. According to the company, the CAESAR is the only truck-mounted cannon in Ukraine aside from a locally-developed SPH, allowing the company a significant opportunity to improve the platform based on Ukrainian feedback.

In Asia, only Thailand and Indonesia operate the CAESAR. The Royal Thai Army (RTA) operates 6 units of 6×6 CAESARs while Indonesia operates 56 CAESARs across three battalions, the third largest operator globally and was the first customer in Asia.

This June, KNDS signed a deal with Indonesian state-owned powerhouse PT Pindad for future cooperation on artillery systems and large-calibre ammunition with local production transfer. The eventual production of CAESAR will take place in stages.

Another Letter of Intent (LOI) was also signed by Indonesia, encompassing the procurement of additional CAESAR 155mm self-propelled howitzer (SPH) artillery systems and its 155mm ammunition. It would also allow enhanced industrial cooperation between KNDS and Indonesia, with plans for the CAESAR to be produced locally.

Meanwhile, the CAESAR is also in prime position to win the US Army’s competition to replace their 155mm M777 towed-howitzer from BAE Systems. For that programme, the US is expected to order as many as 400 units to supplant the M777s with Elbit Systems, BAE Systems and KNDS and possibly Hanwha all vying for the deal.–-shp/adj/dl (Pix:KNDS)