Saab has begun constructing a “fully owned” Carl Gustaf rifle factory in India.
It is the first Carl Gustaf facility outside Sweden, built by Saab FFVO India Pvt Ltd. in Haryana’s Jhajjar, 55 kilometers (34 miles) west of Delhi.
Saab will partner with Indian suppliers to fully meet Indian armed forces requirements for the weapon, with production expected from next year.
Made in India
Saab took six months to receive regulatory approval for the venture, the Press Trust of India wrote, citing Saab senior vice president Gorgen Johansson.
The outlet added that the manufacturing entity is fully Indian.
“I am proud to start constructing our first facility outside Sweden for Carl-Gustaf, a product that has a long history with the Indian Armed Forces,” Johansson said.
“We look forward to starting production of our excellent product, now engineered and made in India.”
Fully Owned Facility
Saab began the construction after receiving 100 percent foreign direct investment clearance in October, the first foreign defense firm to receive the clearance.
The Indian government raised the foreign direct investment limit in defense from 49 percent to 74 percent in 2020 and up to 100 percent for specific cases.
“Today is an important milestone for Sweden and India. Saab’s factory will be the first foreign fully owned defense production facility in India,” Swedish State Secretary for Foreign Trade Hakan Jevrell said.
“It is a testament to the strong bilateral relationship between our countries.”
Components for Non-Indian Users
The 3.6-acre (1.4-hectare) facility will employ complex technologies to manufacture the weapon, including the latest sighting technology and advanced carbon fiber winding, according to the Press Trust of India.
Apart from producing the Carl Gustaf for the Indian armed forces, the facility will produce components that “may be included in other users’ systems.”
Multi-Role Weapon
The Indian armed forces have been using the multi-purpose recoilless rifle since 1976.
The 7-kilogram (15-pound) man-portable weapon allows dismounted soldiers to confront modern battlefield challenges effectively.
It is compatible with various anti-armor, anti-structure, and anti-personnel ammunition.