Saab has received an order from the U.S. Air Force for Carl-Gustaf M4 systems. The order value is USD 7.8 million with deliveries taking place during 2026. Saab’s Carl-Gustaf system (designated Multi-Role Anti-Armor Anti-Personnel Weapon System (MAAWS) in the U.S.) has a long and proven record with the U.S. military. This order is a first for the U.S. Air Force, joining U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) as U.S. customers. The order will allow the U.S. Air Force to equip soldiers with a proven solution to effectively deal with multiple challenges on the modern battlefield. The reloadable, multi-purpose Carl-Gustaf system has been in service in the U.S. since 1990 and as a Program of Record for the U.S. Army since 2013.
“Saab is constantly evolving to meet broader customer needs, and we are thrilled to add the U.S. Air Force as a new customer for the Carl-Gustaf. This order will ensure that our airmen will have a multi-purpose and flexible weapon system that gives them a tactical advantage in any combat scenario,” said Erik Smith, President and CEO of Saab in the U.S.
The Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle (named after Carl Gustafs Stads Gevärsfaktori, which initially produced it) is a Swedish-developed 84 mm (3.3 in) caliber shoulder-fired recoilless rifle, initially developed by the Royal Swedish Army Materiel Administration during the second half of the 1940s as a crew-served man-portable infantry support gun for close-range multi-role anti-armour, anti-personnel, battlefield illumination, smoke screening and marking fire, which has seen great export success around the globe and continues to be a popular multi-purpose support weapon in use by many nations. The Carl Gustaf 84 mm recoilless rifle is a lightweight, low-cost weapon that uses a wide range of ammunition, which makes it extremely flexible and suitable for a wide variety of roles.
The US version of the M4 became known domestically as the M3E1 MAAWS. By using titanium, it is more than 2.7 kilograms (6 lb) lighter than the 2014 M4 and is also 64 millimetres (2.5 in) shorter. It has an improved carrying handle, shoulder padding and a sighting system that can be adjusted for better comfort. The wiring harness provides a foregrip controller and programmable fuze setter for an interchangeable fire control system. The M3E1 uses the same family of ammunition as the M3. The shorter length was in response to the need to wield the weapon in urban terrain, and weight savings were achieved through using lighter components whenever possible including a carbon fibre tube with titanium liner, and a new venturi design.
