Saab has received an order for Carl-Gustaf recoilless rifle ammunition and AT4CS RS (reduced sensitivity) anti-armour weapon systems for U.S. Armed Forces. The order value is USD 81.8 million (SEK 812.7 million) and deliveries will take place during 2024. The Carl-Gustaf ammunition and AT4 systems within this order will be used by the U.S. Army, U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and U.S. Marine Corps. The delivery order is signed within an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) framework agreement signed in 2019 between Saab and the U.S. Army that allows the customer to place orders for Carl-Gustaf ammunition and the single-shot AT4 shoulder-fired weapon systems during a five-year period.
“We are proud to provide the U.S. Army, U.S. SOCOM and U.S. Marine Corps with a world-class, battlefield proven and effective multi-purpose shoulder fired capability (anti-armor, anti-structure, anti-personnel and illumination). Most importantly, Saab’s Carl-Gustaf and AT4 weapon systems will continue to provide warfighters with a significant lethal overmatch capability when engaging armored and dismounted threat forces on current and future battlefields,” said Erik Smith, President and CEO of Saab in the U.S.
The Carl Gustaf is a Swedish developed 84 mm (3.3 in) caliber man-portable shoulder-fired recoilless rifle, initially developed by the Royal Swedish Army Materiel Administration and Saab. Saab’s Carl-Gustaf system (designated MAAWS in the U.S.) has a long and proven record with the U.S. military. The reloadable, multi-purpose system has been in service in the U.S. since 1990 and a program of record for the U.S. Army since 2013. In 2018, the U.S. Army announced it would acquire the latest version of the weapon, the Carl-Gustaf M4 (designated M3A1 in the U.S.). The Carl Gustaf is a lightweight, low-cost weapon that uses a wide range of ammunition, which makes it extremely flexible for a wide variety of roles.
The AT4 is a Swedish 84 mm (3.31 in) unguided, man-portable, disposable single-shot, shoulder-fired smoothbore recoilless gun anti-tank weapon built by Saab (previously Bofors Anti-Armour Systems). The AT4 is not considered a rocket launcher as the explosive warhead is not propelled by a rocket motor; similarly, it is not exactly a recoilless rifle, but rather a recoilless gun, as the launcher is smoothbore and not rifled.[6] Saab has had considerable sales success with the AT4, making it one of the most common light anti-tank weapons in the world. The M136 AT4 is a variant used by the United States Army. The AT4CS RS is a preloaded weapon with a specially developed, unique shaped-charge warhead that delivers outstanding behind-armour-effects inside the target.
