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 stated.
“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,” Saab Australia Managing Director Andy Keough said.
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.