Swedish conglomerate Saab has secured a contract to manufacture and deliver AT4 single-shot anti-armor weapons to the Indian armed forces.
One of the most popular support weapons on the market, the AT4 is an 84-millimeter unguided weapon capable of destroying structures and enemy assets, including tanks, combat vehicles, landing craft, and helicopters.
The weapon can be fired with a range of projectiles, such as high-explosive anti-tank rounds, anti-structure tandem-warheads, and high explosive rounds. It can penetrate more than 17.5 inches (44 centimeters) of armor.
The AT4 is equipped with an optical night sight for missions in low-light environments and has a minimum arming distance of 10 meters (32.8 feet), making it more accurate when hitting closer targets.
According to Saab, the Indian military is acquiring the AT4 weapon with the AST (anti-structure tandem-warhead) projectile, enabling it to be fired from confined spaces such as buildings, bunkers, and other urban environments.
“The AT4CS AST [variant] offers a tandem warhead with a breach or blast mode, which is optimized to defeat enemies within buildings and to destroy structures, which can create a point of access into them,” the company said in a press release.
‘Combat-Proven’
All variants of the AT4 light anti-armor weapon are reportedly ideal for missions requiring night and confined space firing.
Trials have shown that the weapon can penetrate armored vehicles and destroy heavy wooden structures.
Saab India Chairman and Managing Director Ola Rignell explained that the lightweight, single-shot, fully disposable system is “combat-proven” and characterized by ease of use and handling.
“This selection of the system through a competitive process underscores Saab’s commitment to bringing to Indian forces the latest systems,” Rignell told The Hindu.
Saab’s business area head Görgen Johansson expressed that the company is honored to have been selected for its AT4 weapon system. He said that the Indian armed forces “can be confident in the knowledge that they have the necessary firepower to give them the advantage.”
In addition to the Indian military, the AT4 is currently used by the US, French, and Swedish armed forces.