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
-
First locally built KF41 Lynx IFV handed over to Hungary
The KF41 procurement is part of Hungary’s Zrínyi 2026 development plan and is one of several efforts to procure modern, NATO-standard platforms that will supersede legacy equipment received from the Soviet Union by 2026.
-
How Spain’s acquisition of PAC-3 MSE can boost European air defence
Madrid will increase interoperability with the other seven users of next-gen Patriot in the region.
-
MBDA announces new VSHORAD system at Farnborough International Airshow 2024
The VSHORAD supersonic single-operator interceptor air defence system was unveiled at Farnborough.
-
Raytheon notes CUAS laser success and pushes for faster air defence manufacture
Raytheon’s Patriot air defence system has been in high demand with orders and commitment coming in from Germany, Romania and Spain.
-
BAE Tridon MK2 fitted with Chess Dynamics fire control system
The collaboration between the defence giant and the gunfire control specialist will help deliver a modular anti-drone solution.