Saab has received orders from the Latvian Ministry of Defence for ammunition for the Carl-Gustaf recoilless rifle. The order value is approximately SEK 185 million ($17 million). The order is placed within a framework agreement between Saab and the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV, Forsvarets materielverk) which enables Latvia to place orders for Carl-Gustaf M4 weapons and ammunition over a ten-year period. The wide range of ammunition types available for Carl-Gustaf makes it flexible and able to handle any situation on the battlefield, whether it is to destroy an armoured vehicle or structure, or illuminating the battlefield during night-time operations.
“We are pleased to continue delivering our world-class ground combat capabilities to Latvia. This order will support the Latvian National Armed Forces’ ability to meet a wide range of challenges on the modern battlefield,” says Görgen Johansson, head of Saab’s business area Dynamics.
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. Built to satisfy future requirements, it is compatible with advanced fire control devices and prepared for specialised ammunition, putting advanced technology at forces’ fingertips. Since the launch in 2014, Saab has signed contracts with fourteen different nations for Carl-Gustaf M4. The wide range of ammunition provides extreme tactical flexibility ready for any combat situation, delivering faster engagement, increased hit probability and greater effectiveness.
