Hanwha manoeuvres for Malaysian rocket artillery requirement
Malaysia is looking to purchase a new rocket artillery system in the short term to replace its ASTROS II. (Photo: Avibras)
South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace has boosted its position in the race to replace Malaysia’s 36 Avibras ASTROS II (Artillery Saturation Rocket System II) systems by concluding an MoU with Malaysian investment firm Widad Business Group.
ASTROS systems are in service in the Middle East, Brazil, Indonesia and Malaysia.
While Shephard Defence Insight notes Malaysia has a theoretical out-of-service date of more than a decade away, a statement from Hanwha noted there are plans for a replacement by 2026. Final proposals from bidders would be submitted in the second quarter of 2025.
The deadline of less than a year implies an established
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Land Warfare
-
How do land and air defense forces defend against complex threats?
Learn how RTX systems defend against complex attacks from adversaries including hostile drones, and multi-range missiles.
-
Hundreds of Boxers with Puma turrets ordered for Dutch and German forces
The order is for 270 vehicles, 222 of which are infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) known as Schakal (Jackal), which integrates the advanced Puma IFV RCT30 turret onto the Boxer chassis.
-
AUSA 2025: BAE Systems delivers more than 500 AMPVs to the US Army
The US Army requires 2,907 Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicles to replace its M113 family, and there are multiple versions in production.
-
AUSA 2025: AM General Hawkeye awaits first production contract
AM General presented its new Hawkeye at AUSA 2025 in Washington, with prototypes of the howitzer system having been trialled in Ukraine last year.
-
AUSA 2025: Lionstrike lays out plans for British Army vehicle bid as competitors get ready
In September 2025, BAE Systems announced that it was joining GM Defense and NP Aerospace to form Team Lionstrike. The team will be offering a version of GM Defense’s infantry support vehicle which is based on the commercial Colorado vehicle.