Saab has signed a four-year contract with the Australian Army to provide in-service support for the 84mm Carl Gustaf M4 recoilless rifle.
The Short Range Anti-Armour Weapon System support contract includes two provisions for a two-year extension.
It also commits the Swedish defense company to maintaining, repairing, and providing spares for the multi-role system, in addition to operator and maintainer training for the army’s personnel.
This latest development helps “drive growth through product roadmap updates and a framework for future acquisitions to enable capability enhancements,” the press release states.
Saab Australia Managing Director Andy Keough said, “As a sovereign provider with a demonstrated history in supporting Australia’s land domain, Saab’s local workforce, agility, and unrestricted product access, allows us to rapidly deliver speed to capability for the Australian Defence Force.”
Combat-Proven Capability
Canberra placed an order for the versatile, man-portable weapon system under a $15.46-million deal in 2018 and procured more in a contract valued at $36.8 million in 2023.
In June, the rifles were enhanced with the Finnish company Senop’s Advanced Fire Control Device Thermal Imager which provides a day camera, thermal camera, laser rangefinder, and ballistic calculation.
The Carl Gustaf M4 is operated by more than 40 defense forces around the world, including Poland, which signed a $1.2-billion order in March this year.
