View source for GIAT LG1

{{Redirect|LG1|other uses|lg1 (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox weapon
| name               = GIAT LG-1
| image              = Royal Thai Army firing LG1 howitzer with extended range ammunition.jpg
| image_size         = 300
| caption            = Royal Thai Army firing extended range ammunition from LG1 during training in Lopburi, Thailand
| origin             = France
| type               = Howitzer
<!-- Type selection -->| is_ranged          = 
| is_bladed          = 
| is_explosive       = 
| is_artillery       = yes
| is_vehicle         = 
| is_UK              = <!-- Service history -->
| service            = 
| used_by            = See [[#Operators|''operators'']]
| wars               = <!-- Production history -->
| designer           = [[Nexter|GIAT Industries]] (now Nexter group)
| design_date        = 
| manufacturer       = GIAT Industries
| unit_cost          = ${{round|{{to USD|648857|Canada|year=1994}}|-3}} (Mk II, 1994),<ref>{{cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yZrtAAAAMAAJ&q=%22C+%24+18+million%22 | title=Jane's Defence Contracts: A Jane's Defence Weekly Publication | date=1994 }}</ref>
${{round|{{to USD|69533533|Thailand|year=2023}}|-3}} (Mk III, 2023)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://armyrecognition.com/news/army-news/army-news-2023/royal-thai-army-modernizes-artillery-with-nexter-lg1-mk-iii-howitzers | title=Royal Thai Army modernizes artillery with Nexter LG1 Mk III howitzers | date=5 October 2023 }}</ref>
| production_date    = 
| number             = 130<ref name="Deagel">{{Cite web|url=http://www.deagel.com/Towed-Guns/105-LG1-MkII_a000584001.aspx|title=105mm LG1 MkII - Contracts, Orders & Sales|date=1 August 2010|publisher=Deagel.Com|access-date=5 September 2010}}</ref>
| variants           = <!-- General specifications -->
| weight             = {{convert|1520|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
| length             = 
| part_length        = {{convert|3.15|m|ftin|abbr=on|sigfig=1}} L/30
| width              = 
| height             = 
| crew               = 5
<!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->| cartridge          = 105 mm NATO
| action             = 
| rate               = 12 rounds per minute
| velocity           = 
| range              = 
| max_range          = {{convert|17|km}} using Base bleed rounds<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nexter-group.fr/en/nos-produits |title = OUR PRODUCTS {{!}} Nexter}}</ref>
| feed               = 
| sights             = <!-- Artillery specifications -->
| breech             = [[Rifled breech loader#The sliding block|Horizontal-block]]
| recoil             = 
| carriage           = [[Gun carriage#Modern gun carriages|Split trail]]
| elevation          = -3°/+70°
| traverse           = ±25° from centerline
<!-- Bladed weapon specifications -->| blade_type         = 
| hilt_type          = 
| sheath_type        = 
| head_type          = 
| haft_type          = <!-- Explosive specifications -->
| diameter           = 
| filling            = 
| filling_weight     = 
| detonation         = 
| yield              = <!-- Vehicle specifications -->
| armour             = 
| primary_armament   = 
| secondary_armament = 
| engine             = 
| engine_power       = 
| pw_ratio           = 
| suspension         = 
| vehicle_range      = 
| speed              = 
}}

The '''LG1''' is a modern [[105 mm]] towed [[howitzer]] designed and produced by [[Nexter|GIAT Industries]] (now Nexter group) of France.

==Design==
The LG1 howitzer is a 105&nbsp;mm towed artillery piece that features both low weight and a high level of accuracy over long distances. Its lightweight construction gives the barrel a relatively short lifespan. The equivalent full charge (EFC) count is suggested to be approximately 7,500; however, during fire and practice, has yielded only around 1,500 EFCs. The gun was specifically designed for use by rapid deployment forces with attributes such as ruggedness, ease of operation and reduced weight. It can fire all NATO standard 105&nbsp;mm ammunition up to a range of {{convert|17|km}} using HE-ER G3 base bleed rounds.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nexter-group.fr/en/nos-produits |title = OUR PRODUCTS {{!}} Nexter}}</ref>

==Deployment==
[[File:GIAT LG1 MK II 105mm howitzer of the Indonesian Marine Corps.jpg|thumb|Indonesian Marine soldiers fire a round out of a GIAT LG1 MK II 105mm howitzer during a rehearsal of The Operational Troops and Military Honors Ceremony 2025.]]
The gun has been used by the [[Belgian Land Component|Belgian Army]], [[Canadian Army]], [[National Army of Colombia|Colombian National Army]],[[Malaysian Army]], [[Indonesian Marine Corps]], [[Singapore Army]] and the [[Royal Thai Army]].<ref name="Deagel"/>

Current service version with Canadian artillery is the '''LG1 Mark II''', of which 28 were purchased for the [[Royal Canadian Horse Artillery]] (RCHA). GIAT supplied the first [[howitzer]]s in 1996 and fielding was complete by November 1997.

==Planned improvements==
In August 2005, DEPRO (GVB) Incorporated - a Canadian defence firm, was selected by the Canadian Forces to improve their LG-1 guns with improvements ranging from new & better [[muzzle brake]], new-designed spades for better stability during firing and larger tires to replace the small [[Pirelli]] tires (which were found to be inadequate for proper ground clearance while on the move). It is expected that this new set of improvements will give the LG-1 howitzers greater reliability and lifespan, and increase the safety margin for the crew.{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}}

==Combat history==
* [[Colombian conflict (1964–present)|Internal Conflict in Colombia]]
* [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|War against Taliban in Afghanistan]]
* [[Insurgency in Aceh|Counter Insurgency in Aceh]]

==Operators==
[[File:Utilisateurs du canon LG1.png|thumb|400px|Map with LG1 operators in blue and former operators in red]]

===Current operators===
{{flag|Belgium}} :
*[[Belgian Land Component|Belgian Army]] - 14<ref name="Deagel"/>

{{flag|Canada}} :
*[[Canadian Army]] - 28<ref name="Military Balance 2025">{{cite book |title=The Military Balance |date=2025 |publisher=[[International Institute for Strategic Studies]] |isbn=978-1-041-04967-8}}</ref>{{rp|31}}

{{flag|Colombia}} :
*[[National Army of Colombia|Colombian Army]] - 20 LG1 MkIII ordered in 2008 + 20 ordered in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tecnodefesa.com.br/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1110:nexter-systems-mostra-peca-de-105mm-lg-1-mkiii-colombiana&catid=35:noticias&Itemid=55|title=Tecnodefesa - A mais antiga publicação de Defesa da América Latina|work=tecnodefesa.com.br|access-date=20 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.armyrecognition.com/july_2014_global_defense_security_news_uk/army_of_colombia_has_take_delivery_of_three_new_nexter_system_lg1_mk_iii_105mm_light_guns_0507142.html |title=Army of Colombia has take delivery of three new Nexter System LG1 Mk III 105mm light guns |date=5 July 2014 |access-date=8 July 2014 |archive-date=20 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320072844/https://www.armyrecognition.com/july_2014_global_defense_security_news_uk/army_of_colombia_has_take_delivery_of_three_new_nexter_system_lg1_mk_iii_105mm_light_guns_0507142.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=":0"/> There were several problems with its buffers and trunnions, along with accuracy issues in its INS Keafott KN-4051 fire control system after a few rounds and constant use/real fire training, therefore the manufacturer included improvements in its buffer system, cradle and trunnions, also the FCS was changed for the Nexter BACARA FCS, tested and approved in 2014.

{{flag|Indonesia}} :
*[[Indonesian Marine Corps]] - 20<ref name="Deagel"/>

{{flag|Malaysia}} :
*[[Malaysian Army]] - 18<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.janes.com/article/94775/malaysia-receives-first-batch-of-nexter-105-mm-lg1-light-towed-artillery-systems |title = Janes {{!}} Latest defence and security news}}</ref>

{{flag|Thailand}} :
*[[Royal Thai Army]] - 24 Units<ref name="Deagel"/>
*[[Royal Thai Marine Corps]] - 30 Units
{{flag|Saudi Arabia}} :

* [[Saudi Arabian Army|Royal Saudi Land Forces -]] 88<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Trade Registers |url=https://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php |access-date=2023-08-05 |website=armstrade.sipri.org}}</ref> Ordered in 2017, delivered from 2018

{{flag|Senegal}} :

* [[Senegalese Armed Forces|Senegalese Army]] - 8 ordered in 2022<ref name=":0" />

[[File:Giat LG-1.jpg|thumb|A single LG-1 105 mm light howitzer on static display during Singapore Army Open House.]]

===Former operators===
{{flag|Singapore}} :
*[[Singapore Army]] - 39<ref name="Deagel"/> (Phased out in 2008, replaced by the 155mm calibre [[SLWH Pegasus]])

{{flag|Rwanda|1962}} :
* The former ''Forces Armées Rwandaises'' received some LG1s, after the [[Rwandan Civil War]] erupted in 1990.<ref>{{cite magazine|journal=Human Rights Watch Arms Project |date=January 1994 |volume= 6|issue= 1 |title=Arming Rwanda: The Arms Trade and Human Rights, Abuses in the Rwandan War|page=16|url=https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/RWANDA941.PDF}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[L118 light gun]]
*[[M119 howitzer]]
*[[MKE Boran 105 mm howitzer]]
*[[Indian Field Gun]]
*[[KH178 105 mm towed howitzer]]

==References==
;Notes
{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|GIAT LG1}}
{{knds}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:105 mm artillery]]
[[Category:Howitzers]]
[[Category:Post–Cold War artillery of France]]
[[Category:KNDS France]]