Documents
United Kingdom BAE Systems
L118 Light Gun
Towed 105 mm howitzer designed for rapid air portability and airborne and commando artillery units, first proven in combat during the 1982 Falklands War. Widely exported and later supplied to Ukraine, it remains in front-line British Army service.
In service since 1976 · 15 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
105
mm gun
1,858
kg
Pricing: Over 1,100 guns produced between 1974 and 2016, including licence production in Australia and the United States.
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
UK export-licensed
Subject to UK SPIRE licensing (ECJU); generally available to allied states.
Channel: Government-to-government or direct
Fielded & proven
Widely fielded · 15 operators
In service since 1976. Status: active · ~1,100 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Rate of fire Rounds per minute (cyclic). Higher increases suppression and hit probability. | 6 rpm |
|---|
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Main armament Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type. | 105 mm L118 howitzer |
|---|---|
| Caliber Bore diameter of the main gun or rifle. Larger throws heavier projectiles; not simply better, ammunition commonality matters. | 105 mm |
| Max firing range Maximum range of the main gun or rocket artillery (with assisted/extended-range munitions where noted). Higher extends reach. | 17.2 km |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 4.88 m |
|---|---|
| Width Overall width, matters for rail/road transport of vehicles. | 1.78 m |
| Height Overall height. Lower profile is harder to spot and hit for ground vehicles. | 1.37 m |
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 1,858 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 6 |
| Barrel length Barrel length, longer improves muzzle velocity and accuracy, shorter improves handling. | 3,900 mm |
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 1,100 |
|---|---|
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 15 |
Specifications compiled from public BAE Systems and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
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How much does the BAE Systems L118 Light Gun weigh? +
The BAE Systems L118 Light Gun has a combat weight of 1,858 kg.
How many crew does the BAE Systems L118 Light Gun require? +
The BAE Systems L118 Light Gun requires a crew of 6.
What is the main armament of the BAE Systems L118 Light Gun? +
The BAE Systems L118 Light Gun's primary weapon is the 105 mm L118 howitzer.
What is the BAE Systems L118 Light Gun used for? +
The BAE Systems L118 Light Gun is a artillery & mlrs typically used for anti armor.
How many countries operate the BAE Systems L118 Light Gun? +
The BAE Systems L118 Light Gun is operated by 15 countries.
How much does the BAE Systems L118 Light Gun cost? +
BAE Systems L118 Light Gun: Over 1,100 guns produced between 1974 and 2016, including licence production in Australia and the United States.. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
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