Center for analysis of world arms trade (CAWAT), 27th of July. Saab company announced about signing with the Estonian center of defense investments (ECDI) of contract on supply of ammunition for 84-mm hand-held anti-tank grenade launchers “Karl Gustav”.
The worth of selling is 186 mln. Sweden crones (20,5 mln.doll.), and supplies must be done during the 2018-2019 yy.
As was stated, contract was concluded according with the frame agreement, which was signed by Saab with Agency on maintenance of Armed Forces of Sweden (FMV). Estonia got possibility to place orders of Saab under this document.
At the current moment about 40 states of the world are the customers of “Karl Gustav”, the first version of which was adopted in service in 1948. Among famous clients: Armed Forces of Australia, Austria, Belize, Venezuela, Germany, Ghana, Denmark, India, Ireland, Canada, Lithuania, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, USA and Japan.
During the long time system of armament constantly modernized for providing of conformity to new requirements. “Karl Gustav” M-4 – the newest version of grenade launcher, which is different by its substantial reduced weight and increased accuracy of target destruction. Mass of M-4 – is 6,7 kg, what is on 30% easier than M-3, and easier on half than version M2 with 14,2 kg. Weight reduction was achieved through the production of a barrel of titanium alloy, the use of an outer shell of CFRP and the redesign of the breech. Re-assembly allowed to shorten the length of M4 from 106.5 (M3) to 100 cm, which also contributed to weight loss.
