Sweden’s defense and security company Saab has signed a new $31 million contract with the U.S. Army for the company’s Carl-Gustaf man-portable weapon system.
This is the second time the U.S. Army has bought the 84mm recoilless rifle system to equip its forces, and responds to urgent operational needs in Afghanistan. The Carl Gustaf allows soldiers to engage troops in the open or behind protective cover such as a wall or ditch, as far as 1,250 meters away–longer range than standard U.S. Army infantry weapons.
Long in service with U.S. Special Operations Forces, the system has only recently been taken into service by the U.S. Army for its regular infantry units.
“This is another great milestone for Saab and the Carl-Gustaf system. This new order demonstrates the continued belief by the customer in the capabilities and versatility of our product,” said Tomas Samuelsson, senior vice president and head of Saab’s business area Dynamics.
Saab North America President, Dan-Åke Enstedt said: “The fact that the U.S. Army continues its plans to deploy this game-changing weapon system to its main-line units speaks for itself. The Carl-Gustaf has repeatedly proven itself in the most demanding environments and it is a versatile, powerful tool for the soldier.”
The Carl-Gustaf system has been modernized successfully and adapted to meet new requirements. It is now in a M3 version. A true multi-role, man-portable shoulder-fired weapon, the system is in use in more than 40 countries. Saab continues to develop the system and aims to provide a more advanced lighter-weight version for the future.