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Swedish aerospace and defence company Saab has secured a $99 million contract to supply man-portable, Carl-Gustaf multi-role weapon systems for the NATO Support and Procurement Agency.
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The order was placed on behalf of four NATO member nations within a framework agreement between Saab and the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) regarding Carl-Gustaf, including ammunition and equipment, according to a public statement published on 25 March.
The contract period is between this year and 2027.
The multipurpose Carl-Gustaf recoilless rifle has been in use with the Swedish Armed Forces since 1948 and is supplied to more than 40 countries around the world.
Görgen Johansson, head of Saab’s business area dynamics, said Carl-Gustaf provides the effectiveness and flexibility to destroy an armoured vehicle or structure.
“We are honoured that the NSPA once again has chosen our trusted, reliable, and effective Carl-Gustaf system,” Johansson said.
The Australian Army currently uses the 84mm M3 Carl-Gustaf medium direct fire support weapon with high explosive anti-personnel, high explosive anti-tank, illumination and non-explosive practice ammunition. The breech loaded, percussion-fired, recoilless, shoulder-controlled weapon can be fired by one soldier, with a second soldier carrying ammunition and acting as a loader.
Earlier this week, on 22 March, Saab announced it had also received an order of conceptual studies for future fighter systems from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV).
Those conceptional studies include manned and unmanned solutions in a system of system perspective, technology development, and demonstrations. The contract period is 2024–25.
Lars Tossman, head of Saab’s business area aeronautics, said the company will collaborate closely with FMV, the Swedish Armed Forces, the Swedish Defence Research Agency, GKN Aerospace, and other industry partners for the contract.
“Saab is in a strong position and having recently developed Gripen E and GlobalEye, we have the advanced technology and engineering know-how to take the future fighter concept forward,” Tossman said.
“This means we will continue delivering innovative solutions to meet the future operational needs of the Swedish Armed Forces and other customers.”
Saab will further develop collaborations with stakeholders working with emerging and disruptive technologies, which will play an important part in future combat aircraft systems. Saab will also explore innovation platforms including the Swedish government's Defense Innovation Initiative and NATO's Defense Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic.
The concept studies included in this contract will take place in parallel with Saab upgrading Gripen C/D and introducing Gripen E in Sweden and Brazil.
