Hyundai WIA's KH-178 105mm Towed Howitzer is being Evaluated for the Malaysian Army

02 Mei 2026

WIA KH-178 towed 105/38 mm howitzer (photo: WIA)

South Korea's Hyundai WIA KH-178 towed 105/38 mm howitzer is being evaluated in Malaysia as part of an acquisition program for the country's Army.

A representative of Hyundai's local partner WIA (who asked not to provide details) told RID on the sidelines of last week's DSA 2026 exhibition in Kuala Lumpur that the KH-178 is competing in the Malaysian Army's tender for 36 new 105 mm towed howitzers , intended to equip two artillery regiments. Evaluations and tests are currently underway in Malaysia, with results expected by July 2026.

Also at DSA 2026 , Hyundai WIA exhibited its 105 mm wheeled self-propelled gun for the first time in Southeast Asia , having been first shown to the public at the KADEX exhibition in South Korea in October 2024. The gun is mounted on South Korea's Kia Light Tactical Vehicle ( KLTV ), with serial production scheduled to begin in late 2026 or early 2027.

For the KH-178, Hyundai WIA and its local partner also offer the possibility of local assembly of the vehicles from Complete Knock Down (CKD) kits and the creation of a local MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) capability. Additional services, valued at approximately 150 million Malaysian ringgit (MYR, approximately $38 million), will include towing vehicles, a Korean-made Integrated Fire Control System (IFCS), various accessories, and training support.

In terms of performance, the KH-178 has a range of 14 km with HE ammunition and 18 km with RAP (Rocket Assisted Projectile) ammunition. The maximum rate of fire is 15 rounds per minute, with a sustained rate of 3 rounds per minute, for a total system weight of 2,650 kg.

The Malaysian Army currently operates 18 LG1 Mk III 105mm light howitzers , ordered from KNDS in 2018 and assembled locally by Advance Defence Systems Sdn Bhd (ADS). The acquisition of an additional 36 105/38mm howitzers is part of the broader modernization of the Malaysian Land Forces' field artillery capabilities.

(RID)