NORINCO's 105mm CS/AH2 light howitzer seen at Airshow China 2021 (photos : Qian Baihua)
The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation on a joint research and development project of a 105mm CS/AH2 light artillery between the Defence Technology Institute (DTI) and the Artillery Center, the Royal Thai Army (RTA) on March 15, 2023, which DTI Thailand published details on its Online social media on March 22, 2023, about 1 year and 6 months after the procurement was announced. Employed this project on their website for the first time in September, 2021.
DTI Thailand has announced a contract with POLY TECHNOLOGIES, INC. People's Republic of China for a joint research and development project to create a prototype light artillery, 105mm projectile, CS/AH2 type Phase 1, budget 48 million baht ($ 1,439,712).
The CS/AH2 is a 105mm projectile light artillery developed for export by Norinco (China North Industries Group Corporation), China's defense industry enterprise.
The CS/AH2 light artillery has the same system configuration as the BAE Systems M119 (L119) light artillery projectile, which is stationed in 31st Artillery Battalion, King's Guard, 1st Artillery Regiment, King's Guard, 1st Brigade, King's Guard, assembled in Thailand, 22 guns.
Also a 105mm towed light howitzer, NEXTER LG1 Mk III, France, stationed in the 11th Artillery Battalion 1st Artillery Regiment, King's Guard, 1st Brigade, King's Guard, 12 cylinders with Land Rover Defender 4x4 artillery tow trucks
Although the project to purchase two 105mm type 1 towed light howitzers, by a specific method, in the amount of 834,400,000 baht ($ 26,722,194 or 22,677,763 Euros) for 12 LG1 Mk III light cannons, will still in the process of delivering.
But the Thai Army still needs a new 105mm light cannon to replace the old system that has been used for a long time and is obsolete, such as the M425 12 cylinders and the M618A2 32 cylinders built in Thailand, etc., which the CS/AH2 project able to lead to the creation of a new, modern artillery in Thailand
(AAG)