Carl-Gustaf Systems Indian Army’s versatile weapon of choice
Ever-changing battlespace requires a flexible, multi-purpose system. Saab’s Carl-Gustaf® provides the effectiveness soldiers need to eliminate the enemy down before they can react in all environments. The anti-tank, anti-personnel Carl-Gustaf M4 is the kind of equipment that would be vital for the urban combat that is underway now. Its ability to fire various ammunition based on mission demands, ranging from HEAT round to HE round, anti-structure munition, HEDP round and multi-target ammo round, makes it a true multi-role system that can switch between anti-tank and anti-personnel roles.
In line with the growing relevance of the shoulder-launched weapon system worldwide and India, Saab will set up a manufacturing facility for the Carl-Gustaf® in India, with production in the new facility planned to start in 2024. The facility will support the production of the Carl-Gustaf M4 for the Indian Armed Forces and for users of the system around the world.
The latest weapon for the system, Carl-Gustaf M4, is extremely rugged, much like its predecessors, giving the ground troops the freedom to handle it roughly if needed. The soldiers can truly depend on the weapon while operating in challenging conditions. About Carl-Gustaf, Sergeant Raymond Miller of the US Army once said, “When you’re in combat, batteries can go flat and screens and lenses can break. But I have never heard of a Carl-Gustaf having any of those kinds of issues.”
The HEDP 502, for example is a fin-stabilised, high-explosive, dual-purpose round optimised for fighting in built-up areas. It is as effective against armoured vehicles as it is against enemies protected by structures like sandbags, brick and wooden walls. The round has both an impact and a delay mode.
The tandem warhead of MT 756 will neutralise enemy troops inside a building or behind a structure. It is also powerful enough to take out light-armoured vehicles.
The rocket-assisted HEAT 551 allows dismounted soldiers to defeat the majority of armoured vehicles and MBTs in side or rear aspect.
The new Carl-Gustaf M4 weapon is compatible with a wide range of ammunition that can handle all sort of targets including built-up areas, armoured vehicles, and also be used to illuminate battlefields during night-time operations. The ammunitions can be used for both full scale operations and low intensity conflicts. “It is this range of ammunitions that gives soldiers operating Carl-Gustaf the edge over the enemy. From anti-tank rounds to illumination and smoke rounds, these munitions can handle everything. The range can vary between 400m and 2100m,” says Mats Palmberg, Chairman and Managing Director of Saab India.
In a battlefield, speed and manoeuvrability dictate mission success. Carl-Gustaf M4 is less than one meter in length and weighs less than seven kilos, making it that easier to carry and deploy fast, the ideal asset for modern warfare.