Swedish defence major Saab has completed deliveries of the AT4 disposable anti-tank weapons to the Indian military
| Photo Credit: Saab website

Swedish defence major Saab has completed deliveries of the AT4 disposable anti-tank weapons to the Indian military and personnel are being trained on it, said Tapan Rishi Bhatnagar, Chief Operating Officer of Saab India.

The work on setting up a manufacturing facility for the iconic Carl Gustaf systems in Haryana is progressing well while the industrial licence is awaited, he added.

The facility, the first proposal with 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the defence sector, is expected to start production by the end of the year or the beginning of next year.

The industrial licence has been recommended and its receipt is being awaited, Mr. Bhatnagar said. Sourcing activity has been initiated to develop the requisite ecosystem, he added.

The facility would see the manufacture of the latest sighting technology, advanced carbon fibre winding and the final assembly of the Carl Gustaf M4.

In March 2024, Saab announced the beginning of construction on the new fully owned manufacturing facility under Saab FFVO India Pvt Ltd at MET City at Jhajjar in Haryana.

The AT4-CS is a lightweight, man-portable, fully disposable anti-tank weapon that was selected by the Indian Army and the Air Force in 2022 in a competitive process. Around 2,000 units were ordered, it has been learnt. It weighs around 9 kg and has an effective range of 200m.

The Carl Gustaf has been in use by the Indian Army since 1976 and has been the main shoulder-fired weapon. Around seven different variants of the Carl Gustaf are in use by the Indian military, according to company officials.

The ammunition of Carl Gustaf has varying ranges, with a maximum range of upto 1,500m. The anti-tank ammunition has a range of 500m. The older versions of the Carl Gustaf and older ammunition are manufactured in India by the Ordnance Factory Board and now by the newly carved out Defence Public Sector Undertakings.