TSAMTO, May 25. Based on the analysis of New Zealand media reports, the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be supplied with 105-mm light towed guns L-118 / L-119.
According to information published by the New Zealand Herald on May 23, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that 30 specialists of the country's Armed Forces will be sent to the UK to train Ukrainian servicemen in handling the 105-mm L-119 light howitzer. They will remain in the UK until the end of July.
The Prime Minister said that New Zealand was asked to assist in training Ukrainians in the use of this weapon system. A total of 230 Ukrainian servicemen are to be trained. Each course will last about one week.
The L-118 light gun was developed in the UK and produced for the country's armed Forces in the 1970s. The first serial 105-mm L-118 were adopted in 1974.
The maximum firing range of the L-118 conventional high-explosive projectile L31 is 17.2 km. The last modernization carried out included the installation of the laser inertial artillery aiming system LINAPS (Laser Inertial Navigation Artillery Pointing System). The L-119 variant is distinguished by a shorter barrel with a firing range of 11280 m with standard M1 ammunition, which are cheaper than the shots used by the L-118 cannon. It is mainly used for training.
The gun was widely exported, including to the USA, where the modified version was designated M-119. L-118 was also supplied to the Armed Forces of Australia, Spain, Ireland, Bahrain, Brazil, Benin, Kenya, Nepal, New Zealand, Morocco, Oman, UAE, etc. Australia has already replaced its L-118 with BAE Systems' M-777 ultralight howitzers. The British Navy also intends to replace the L-118 guns. Nevertheless, many countries still use the L-118, since their weight of less than 2000 kg allows for rapid airlift using helicopters.
