US DoD to buy ammunition for Saab Carl-Gustaf system

The US Department of Defense (DoD) has placed an order for the acquisition of ammunition for the Carl-Gustaf man-portable weapon system.

Under the order, Saab will supply multiple ammunition types for the Carl-Gustaf 84mm recoilless rifle system.

The Skr145m ($16m) order has been placed with Saab under a contract originally signed by the DoD in August 2014.

The contract includes a five-year period that allows the department to place orders up to a ceiling value of $187m.

Saab Dynamics head and senior vice-president Görgen Johansson said: “We are pleased to see that the DoD keeps investing in the Carl-Gustaf system, and we are proud to provide them with our world-leading Carl-Gustaf ammunition. It is clear evidence of the customer’s trust in us and in the capabilities of our products.”

Saab Defense and Security USA president and CEO Erik Smith added: “With the system now also being fielded in greater numbers to light infantry units in multiple theatres, the mission flexibility provided by multiple munition types available to the operator are delivering great agility and capability to the warfighter.”

Known in the US as M3 multi-role, anti-armour, anti-personnel weapon system (MAAWS), the shoulder-launched, combat-proven Carl-Gustaf has the capability to employ a wide range of ammunition types.

The Carl-Gustaf M4 is the latest version of the weapon system, which has a launcher weight of less than 7kg.

Capable of operating in demanding environments, the system can defeat different threat types from neutralising armoured vehicles to clearing obstacles and structures.

Deliveries under the US Government order will be carried out in 2020.