15 February 2019

US Army to acquire Carl-Gustaf M4

by Robin Hughes

The US Army has signed a three-year framework agreement with Saab Dynamics to acquire the 84 mm Carl-Gustaf M4 (CGM4) lightweight reusable shoulder-fired recoilless weapon system.

In September 2017 the Army announced an intention to rapidly acquire about 1,111 GGM4s – with an equal number of Aimpoint FCS-13 ER Dynamic Universal Reflex Sight fire-control systems and to field them as soon as possible under an urgent material release, with full qualification planned for 2020.

A subsequent solicitation for the purchase of CGM4 recoilless rifles – designated as the Carl-Gustaf Multi-role Anti-armor Anti-personnel Weapon System (MAAWS) M3E1 in US service – was issued to Saab Dynamics on 8 January 2018. The contract was awarded by the US Army Contracting Command on behalf of the Project Manager Soldier Weapons-Crew Served (PMSW-CS) on 21 December 2018, but disclosed on 23 January this year and specifies a requirement for the lightweight Carl-Gustaf M3E1 recoilless rifle with an integrated round counter for improved logistics and weapon maintenance.

Under the provisions of the contract the US Army will be able to place orders for MAAWS M3E1 to a total value of SEK380 million (USD39 million) in the established timeframe out to 2022. An initial order with a value of USD19 million has already been agreed, with deliveries expected later this year. Specific system quantities relating to this order, or the entire framework agreement, have not been disclosed. The framework agreement contract is purely for the acquisition M3E1 weapon system; a separate agreement is expected for 84 mm munitions.