Arquus and Milrem push their UGVs fitted with long-range missiles
Arquus displayed the Drailer uncrewed ground vehicle (UGV) integrating the Akeron LP long-range missile at the Techterre technology demonstrator event ahead of trials in September.
Carl-Gustaf M4 recoilless rifle. (Photo: Saab)
The first shipment of 300 Carl-Gustaf M4 shoulder-fired 84mm recoilless anti-tank weapons on order from Saab for Estonia has arrived in the country, the Estonian Centre for Defence Investment (ECDI) announced on 9 December.
ECDI placed a joint €1.3 million ($1.43 million) order with Latvia in May 2020 for the Carl-Gustaf M4, with Saab to complete deliveries by 2022.
The M4 will supplement M2 and M3 variants already in use by the Estonian Defence Forces. At 7kg, it weighs half as much as the M2 predecessor and is 13cm shorter.
The new weapons ‘will dramatically increase short-range anti-tank capabilities’, said Ramil Lipp, head of armaments procurement at the ECDI.
Saab designed the M4 to fire three types of armour-piercing ammunition, three types of multi-purpose ammunition to destroy buildings and transport vehicles, and two types of anti-personnel ammunition, as well as smoke and illumination grenades.
‘The Carl-Gustaf grenade launcher is part of the standard armaments of the infantry division, providing units with strong anti-armour capabilities,’ said Maj Risto Pärtel, Chief of Ordnance at the Estonian Defence Forces. ‘The first to receive the new weapons are manoeuvring units, which are the main impact force of the Defence Forces.’
Arquus displayed the Drailer uncrewed ground vehicle (UGV) integrating the Akeron LP long-range missile at the Techterre technology demonstrator event ahead of trials in September.
The Czech Republic ordered 52 CAmion Equipé d’un Système d’ARtillerie (CAESAR) self-propelled howitzers (SPHs) in 2021 and added another 10 a year later. A cancellation of the programme would impact both the army’s capabilities and local industry which is involved in the manufacture.
Demand for ammunition continues to increase with manufacturing capability growing to match. Sweden have turned to the two supply lines of Rheinmetall and Nammo as part of a Nordic effort to meet demand. The Polish Government has also announced a US$700 million investment to boost manufacture of munitions.
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The order is in addition to two systems ordered in 2023. It forms part of a family of systems which is becoming widely used and part of a growing demand for the capability, both in deliveries and requirements.
Lockheed Martin’s Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) is a next-generation surface-to-surface missile system and is a planned replanned replacement for MGM-140 Army Tactical Missiles System (ATACMS). It is to be fired from M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers.