Putrajaya’s confirmation that Malaysia has finalised the long-range artillery system it intends to acquire next year marks one of the most consequential steps in the Army’s modern fire support transformation in decades. The decision signals the beginning of a comprehensive overhaul of mobility, precision-strike capability and survivability across the Army’s operational theatres, from the dense jungles of the Peninsula to the highlands and littorals of East Malaysia.
Central to this major capability uplift is the introduction of a next-generation 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer (SPH), a protected, mobile and deep-reaching artillery system that will replace Malaysia’s ageing, vulnerable towed gun inventory. The Defence Ministry has allocated RM50 million under the 2026 national budget to fund the first phase of the programme, initiating what is expected to be a multi-year procurement cycle that will reshape the Army’s entire fire support doctrine.
The move represents a decisive shift away from traditional towed artillery—systems that, while reliable, are hampered by slow deployment speeds, manpower demands and high exposure to counter-battery fire. In contrast, a modern SPH delivers rapid “shoot-and-scoot” capability, armoured crew protection, digital fire control and the ability to integrate with ISR platforms and network-enabled command systems, all of which are essential on battlefields increasingly dominated by drones, counter-battery radars and precision-guided munitions.
Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Adly Zahari told the Dewan Rakyat that the government has concluded technical assessments involving six competing platforms, culminating in the selection of the system that best matches Malaysia’s terrain, operational needs and long-term sustainment requirements. “We have allocated RM50 million for 2026 to continue the procurement of our first 155mm SPH. The type has been finalised based on the tests we carried out and will be announced later,” he confirmed.
He added that the evaluations—including live firing, mobility trials in tropical conditions, digital integration assessments and lifecycle cost modelling—were presented to the Procurement Board before being forwarded to the Finance Ministry for financial scrutiny. On 17 November, the Army received procurement clearance from the Procurement Division, authorising the Ministry to advance into detailed negotiations with the selected manufacturer. “The procurement is currently in the implementation stage, specifically at the price negotiation process, before being submitted back to the Finance Ministry. We expect the process to be finalised by 2026,” Adly said.
This timeline suggests the SPH contract could be inked by late 2025 or early 2026, with first deliveries potentially arriving between 2026 and 2027 depending on production capacity, system configuration and logistics planning. The RM50 million earmarked for 2026 is widely viewed as the initial tranche of a larger programme that will include additional batteries, training, ammunition acquisition, infrastructure development and long-term support arrangements.
Speculation over the selected system intensified throughout 2024. Rumours emerged that Malaysia was preparing to formalise the acquisition at the DSA 2024 exhibition after reports surfaced that the Ministry of Finance had issued a Letter of Intent (LOI) to Malaysian firm Global Komited for the Slovak-made EVA 155mm SPH. MP Datuk Awang Hashim raised the issue in Parliament, asking whether an RM805 million LOI had been issued and whether the MoF had effectively selected EVA over contenders such as France’s CAESAR.
Alongside EVA, two other platforms reportedly entered competitive evaluation—the French CAESAR, already fielded by Indonesia and Thailand, and Türkiye’s Yavuz SPH. Nexter and its Malaysian partner ADS had even proposed local assembly of CAESAR systems in Segamat should the platform be chosen.
The urgency of Malaysia’s move toward an SPH solution reflects fast-changing regional security dynamics, including intensified grey-zone activity in the South China Sea, rapid military modernisation among neighbours and the demonstrated vulnerability of legacy towed artillery systems. Today’s conflict environments, particularly the lessons drawn from Ukraine, underscore the operational value of wheeled SPHs, whose mobility, precision and survivability have proven decisive in drone-intensive, counter-battery-heavy theatres.
For Malaysia, the operational benefits are significant. A 155mm SPH will provide:
Deep-strike firepower beyond 40km
Swift counter-battery engagement capability
Armoured protection for artillery crews
Rapid displacement and reduced exposure times
Integration with UAVs for target acquisition and battle damage assessment
Digital fire direction suited for high-tempo manoeuvre warfare
Geostrategically, the SPH will enhance Malaysia’s deterrence posture in sensitive zones such as Eastern Sabah, Sarawak’s interior and vital maritime approaches across Peninsular Malaysia. It also aligns Malaysia with ASEAN partners that have already modernised their artillery fleets, strengthening future interoperability and joint training opportunities.
The transition toward network-centric, mobile artillery will necessitate doctrinal changes within the Army, including updated brigade structures, enhanced joint targeting processes, revised training modules and expanded integration between artillery units and ISR platforms.
As Malaysia moves toward final contract negotiations, the selected SPH stands poised to become one of the most transformative defence acquisitions of the decade. Initial deliveries expected by 2026 will mark the beginning of a new era in Malaysian land warfare—one defined by mobility, precision, survivability and the capacity to project credible long-range firepower in an increasingly contested regional environment.
