The US Army has awarded a $100 million (USD) contract to Saab for delivery of Carl-Gustaf ammunition and AT4 systems. It’s an “indefinite-delivery, “indefinite quantity” (IDIQ) contract, which EG will have to explain if you want details, but essentially the Big Army, the USMC, and JSOC can reportedly buy more than $400 million worth of them during a 5-year period.
Remember the testing in Sweden last year?
The advent of the new Carl-Gustaf munition ? assuming this is in fact the new laser-guided system ? will is probably more exciting news for more people than the new deal for AT4s. After all, the DoD has purchased well over half a million of them since the heady days of Rick Astley’s debuy album and the very first appearance of The Simpsons.
Back in 2018 the US Army announced it would be acquiring the latest version of the M4 “Goose”, the M3E1. Note that this is M4 is not that other M4 SSD readers might be thinking of. That one, which is much smaller and shoots 5.56mm instead of 84mm, is far more ubiquitous but not as much fun to use.
The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration also recently announced the approval of Carl-Gustaf systems to Latvia, Estonia, and other countries over a ten-year period.
Erik Smith, President and CEO of Saab in the US, says,
“The Saab family of shoulder-fired munitions provides the U.S. Armed Forces with effective capabilities against a wide area of targets. With these systems, soldiers and Marines gain reliable, easy-to-use technology optimized for complex environments and engagements.”
The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration also recently announced the approval of Carl-Gustaf systems to Latvia, Estonia, and other countries over a ten-year period.
The M3 MAAWS (Multirole Anti-armor, Anti-personnel Weapon System) has been in the US inventory for several years now. As with any weapon system, there is (or should be) an ongoing interest in increased lethality and more efficient use.
No immediate references could be found as to whether the new ammunition is thought to mitigate concerns of brain injury to those shooting the recoilless rifle, or if that was even a necessary or valid consideration. The most recent reference easily accessible was this report from the Blast Injury Research Program at Ft. Detrick. It’s nearly a decade old, and the helmet sensors formerly fielded to combat troops have since been withdrawn.
You can find additional details and confirmation at the Saab Group website.
From Defense Web TV:
By David Reeder
Huh. The barin injury mention is interesting. The Carl Gustav figures into the posthumously, just- published science fiction novel “Marmalukes”, by Jerry Pournelle. The novel also states that in training, the US Army limits gunners to 4 Carl Gustav shots per day, due to blast injury concerns. It’s a work of fiction, so don’t cite it as current doctrine!
Huh. The brain injury mention is interesting. The Carl Gustav figures into the posthumously, just- published science fiction novel “Marmalukes”, by Jerry Pournelle. The novel also states that in training, the US Army limits gunners to 4 Carl Gustav shots per day, due to blast injury concerns. It’s a work of fiction, so don’t cite it as current doctrine!