Carl-Gustaf to become US Army Program of Record
Saab’s Carl-Gustaf man-portable weapon system is to become standard-issue to the US Army’s Light Infantry units following its selection as a Program of Record by the US Department of the Army.
The Carl-Gustaf has been in service with the US Special Operations Forces for more than 20 years, where it is designated the M3 Multi-role Anti-armour Anti-tank Weapon System (MAAWS). It will now fill a capability gap for units using disposable shoulder fired munitions.
Jonas Hjelm, president, Saab North America, said: ‘The fact that the US Army has now elected to designate Carl-Gustaf as a Program of Record, thereby enabling it to be broadly fielded to its light Infantry units speaks for itself. The Carl-Gustaf has repeatedly proven itself in the world’s most demanding environments as a versatile, powerful tool for the infantry soldier.’
Saab works to continuously modernise the system to meet future operational needs, and according to the company a lighter weight version of the Carl-Gustaf is currently under development.
Improvements are also being made to the Carl-Gustaf ammunition family with the recent release of the new 655 CS (Confined Space) high explosive anti-tank (HEAT) round. This is the first in a new generation of munitions for the Carl-Gustaf designed to reduce back blast, and allow soldiers to safely employ the weapon in confined spaces, minimising the hazardous effects of traditional shoulder fired munitions.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
German rearmament – three potential scenarios
With the possibility of a massive increase in German defence spending on the horizon, Shephard analyses what such a boost could mean for the Bundeswehr’s procurement of new armoured vehicles.
-
RAFAEL’s Laser Defense Systems Revolutionize the Battlefield
A Pioneering Laser Powerhouse, RAFAEL transforms laser technology into proven operational defense capabilities.
-
DSEI 2025: Larger vehicles begin to turn to the benefits of rubber tracks
Composite rubber tracks (CRTs) have substantial benefits over conventional steel tracks including reduced damage when travelling on roads and reduced vibration, noise, thermal signature, weight and fuel consumption.
-
Lockheed Martin lands US Army US$9.8 billion Patriot contract
The contract will be used to produce 1,970 Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC-3 MSE) interceptors and hardware.
-
DSEI 2025: Likely spending boosts outlined this year turn spotlight on show
A surge in budgeted and planned defence spending across European NATO countries in the past year has come in the face of the war in Ukraine and demands from the Trump administration that the countries take on more of the load. This is likely to be reflected in what can be expected from DSEI.
-
DSEI 2025: Leopard 1 offered extra kick with new power pack
The new power pack from Germany’s Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft (FFG) is about 300kg lighter than the original system, consists of a more modern eight-cylinder diesel developing up to 1,080hp. It is being shown for the first time at DSEI.