Poland awards $1.2 billion contract to Saab for Carl-Gustaf grenade launchers

Europe, News March 7, 2024 , by IRIA No Comments

Poland’s Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz announced that Poland has inked an agreement with Sweden’s Saab to purchase Carl-Gustaf M4 anti-tank grenade launchers worth approximately $1.2 billion.

Kosiniak-Kamysz said Poland would receive several thousand grenade launchers and several hundred thousand rounds of ammunition, as well as the necessary infrastructure, training, and other elements necessary to use the weapon. The Polish defense minister said that the decision was made after the weapon proved its efficacy for the Ukrainian forces in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

This year Poland is spending about 4% of gross domestic product (GDP) on defense as it seeks to strengthen its armed forces in the face of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Under the contract, the Swedish arms manufacturer would deliver an undisclosed number of rifles to Poland from 2024 to 2027. Saab said it is the largest ground-combat contract in the company’s history.

Przeciwpancerne wzmocnienie #WojskoPolskie. Wczoraj podpisaliśmy umowę na dostawę do końca 2027 r. ponad 6 tysięcy wielozadaniowych granatników #CarlGustafM4 za kwotę ponad 6,5 mld zł brutto wraz z trenażerami i amunicją w liczbie kilkuset tysięcy szt.https://t.co/7RB3g4FFzt pic.twitter.com/ypYTQYjJAd
— Agencja Uzbrojenia (@AgencjaUzbr) March 5, 2024

Saab’s CEO and President, Micael Johansson, expressed pride in the company’s enduring collaboration with the Polish Armed Forces, emphasizing the reinforcement of Poland’s defense with the Carl-Gustaf system, renowned for its effectiveness.

“I am proud of our close relationship with the Polish Armed Forces and that Saab can continue to strengthen Poland’s ground combat capability and national defense with our world-leading Carl-Gustaf system,” Johansson said in a statement.

The Carl-Gustaf M4 is an 8.4mm recoil riffle and the newest model in the Saab’s Carl-Gustaf weapon series, is engineered to attack armored vehicles such as tanks. The weapon is also capable of attacking enemy personnel and their fortified positions.

It has an effective range of 300 to 2100 meters, based on the type of ammunition utilized. The M4 features ergonomic improvements tailored for urban combat scenarios, boasting reduced dimensions and weight compared to its forerunner, the M3. Additionally, it is equipped with a Picatinny rail that facilitates the attachment of supplementary sighting devices, thereby augmenting operational flexibility.

*^{Soldiers loading Carl-Gustaf M4 with HE 448. (Image Credit: SAAB)}*

The weapon system’s design is inspired by other man-portable rocket launchers such as Bazooka or Javelin. Typically operated by a two-man crew, the gunner, and a loader, the Carl-Gustaf M4 can also be managed by a single operator in certain conditions, decreasing the firing rate to more than six minutes for each round.

Priced at approximately $20,000 per unit, its ammunition costs range from $500 to $3,000 per round. Several countries have purchased the M4 including Australia, the U.S., and Japan are using the weapon.

Last year, the Australian Department of Defense made a $37.2 million agreement with Saab for the purchase of Carl-Gustaf M4 rifles with deliveries expected in 2024-2025.