Return of the tank-killing king
Capable of stopping any known main battle tank dead in its tracks, Saab’s new HEAT 758 round for the Carl-Gustaf combines increased effect with the simplicity of the Firebolt programmable ammunition system.
Put yourself in the shoes of a tank driver from a non-NATO army, ordered to advance on a nation in Western Europe. Your main battle tank is equipped with advanced explosive reactive armour that is supposed to defeat anti-tank rounds. But in the forest around you are countless dismounted soldiers, each carrying a launcher and a new HEAT round capable of opening up the tank around you like a tin of sardines.
Do you feel like driving on? Or do you swing the turret around and head back east? It’s the kind of decision tank crews from hostile nations will now need to make following the release of the latest member of the Carl-Gustaf ammunition family. The 758 High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) round builds on the battle-proven effectiveness of our HEAT 751 round but delivers greater range, deeper penetration and even greater effect. Significantly, it is the second round designed specifically for use with our Firebolt programmable ammunition system for Carl-Gustaf, greatly reducing the risk of human error when firing and significantly increasing the likelihood of a successful first-time hit.
Evolving to a new level
The Carl-Gustaf system’s current HEAT solution, the 751, already presents a formidable threat to main battle tanks. When fired, a precursor charge triggers and disrupts explosive reactive armour (ERA), allowing the main shaped charge to follow through and penetrate the underlying tank armour. The system is able to penetrate armour to a depth of 500mm from a distance of up to 500 metres, making it a tank killer, particularly in side and rear attacks. The 751 is also battle-proven, time and again, with Ukrainian forces using it repeatedly to destroy Russian tanks.
But tank technology, including ERA and composite armour, are evolving constantly and anti-tank rounds need to do the same. Saab has been thinking about a successor to the 751 since anti-western forces unveiled their new main battle tanks in 2015 By the time the current Ukraine conflict broke out in 2022, development on the project was well advanced. Operational data from the four years of the conflict, including the 751’s performance against Russian T90 tanks and other armoured vehicles, has all contributed to the development of the new 758 round.
The 758 builds on the success of the 751 and goes further. In response to customer feedback requesting a round capable of even greater effect, the round is designed to penetrate 700mm compared to the 751’s 500mm. This increases the chances of a one-hit kill and factors in advances in tank defensive technology for years to come. The range at which the 758 can be successfully fired has also increased from 500 to 600 metres, taking Carl-Gustaf crews even further away from the target and the danger zone. At the same time, it has a comparable size and weight to the 751 meaning that increased lethality does not come at the expense of an extra burden for crews. Like the 751, the 758 is most effective when used in rear and lateral attacks on tanks.
Designed for Firebolt
What makes the HEAT 758 especially formidable is that it is designed from scratch for use with Saab’s Firebolt system for Carl-Gustaf. First unveiled in 2022, the system greatly reduces human error and shortens reaction time by enabling chambered rounds to communicate directly with the weapon and sight. Rather than having to manually select ammunition type and fuze settings, as was the case with legacy Carl-Gustaf systems, Firebolt automatically configures the round and applies the correct ballistic data before firing. It also measures propellant temperature and adjusts accordingly, ensuring accuracy under all conditions.
The first made-for-Firebolt round released was the HE 448, a high-explosive round designed for use against troops in the open or in trenches, with both impact and airburst modes. Fully integrated with the Firebolt system, it is automatically configured before firing, enabling faster engagement and greater first-shot accuracy. Feedback from customers since the round’s launch in 2022 confirms it is more accurate and more effective than the corresponding non-Firebolt round. This leads to better outcomes for users and a greater chance of mission success.
While the entire Carl-Gustaf ammunition family is now transitioning to Firebolt compatibility, the HEAT 758 is only the second round to be designed with the Firebolt system in mind. In practice, soldiers can save crucial seconds in loading and firing a round due to the lighter weapon programming requirements. At the same time, the chances of grabbing a round and firing with the wrong settings inputted – resulting in a miss – are greatly reduced. In general terms, Firebolt makes switching between round types in the field a seamless process. This is a huge advantage for operators who might be under enemy fire and extremely stressed.
Distributed fire power
While there are other munitions capable of destroying tanks, what sets the HEAT 758 round apart is its ability to be fielded widely across deployed forces. Like the Carl-Gustaf recoilless rifle, it is designed for use at the section or squad level, enabling anti-armour capability to be distributed among small units. Nations such as Sweden treat the system as a shared asset within a squad, typically operated by teams of soldiers trained to deploy it effectively.
This approach allows more troops to be equipped, trained and ready to engage armoured threats, with resupply readily sustained during operations. A single 758 round could destroy an advanced tank that literally costs 1000 times more – an incredible cost differential. The low cost of the round also allows for easy replenishment during battles, empowering troops to fire first rather than hesitating.
Taken together, all these attributes mean the HEAT 758 restores Carl-Gustaf’s reputation as a true tank killer. Regardless of what ERA tanks are equipped with, it penetrates deep and stops tanks dead in their tracks. It should strike fear into the hearts of any hostile tank crews that dare challenges countries using the Carl-Gustaf system.