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.
The US Army conducted a test of the M4, which led to its adoption as the M3E1. (Photo: Saab)
The US Army has awarded Saab a contract for Carl-Gustaf M4 recoilless rifles as part of the Multi-purpose Anti-Armor Anti-personnel Weapon System (MAAWS) programme.
The order will include deliveries of the weapon for both the US Army and the USMC and has a value of $16 million under the current IDIQ agreement, although the total unit count has not been disclosed.
Erik Smith, President and CEO of Saab in the US, commented: ‘This order will make soldiers and marines more agile thanks to the reduced weight and increased capability compared to the previous version currently in operational use’.
The Carl-Gustaf M4 is compatible with advanced fire control devices and prepared for specialised ammunition. The wide range of ammunition provides tactical flexibility for a range of combat situations.
For example, at the start of this month, Saab showcased its new programmable M4 munition which communicated with the fire control device achieving greater accuracy with the data.
According to Shephard Defence Insight, the fourth generation of the widely deployed shoulder-fired 84mm recoilless weapon system weighs under seven kilograms and measures less than 1,000mm.
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.
Several US Army vehicle programmes were axed by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s plans to transform the US Army, as outlined in the Letter to the Force: Army Transformation Initiative document. However, the new generation Abrams M1E3 main battle tank (MBT) was singled out for survival. But what will it look like?
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.