The
84 millimeters gustif costs 20,000 each, weighing around 15 pounds at nearly 3
feet long, the Gustif can eventually fire
rocket boosted laser-guided munitions
too. The models that are made of titanium
are even lighter and more portable.
The Carl Gustav series of recoilless
rifles represent one of the world's
longest serving man portable anti-tank
weapon systems. Since the original carl
augustus first appeared in sweden in the
aftermath of the second world war, the Carl Gustaf defended subsequent variants
have been widely adopted and utilized by
a number of militaries around the world, including the united states armed forces.
Today, the most modern variant of the
carl gustaf is being adopted by the
united states military in increasing
numbers. The army announced last year that it
would spend 87 million dollars with
swedish defense Firm Saab, to supply it
for the coming years. The army plans to
buy around 2400 Gustavs by 2023.
The
marine said this july that it would give
it to rifle platoons as well. the gustif
makes sense because it enables a
cost-effective system that has many
options on the battlefield. It can be
fired from the standing, sitting or prone
position.
The Gustif engages a target
quickly and it has a enabled range
finder, it can shoot six rounds per
minute and more with another person to
load it.
Now there are plans for raytheon to hook
up with saab, to create the laser guided
carl gustaf munition. This will be even
deadlier due to its high accuracy, it is
already being tested with excellent
results.
The laser guided system will
likely be fielded first with special ops
units, then it will trickle down to
infantry platoons if it is successful.
First appearing in 1948 and manufactured
by former swedish arms producer carl
gustaf stadzuvars victori from which the
weapon system derives its name and which
has since been acquired by Swedish
aerospace and defense industry Firm Sabab and quickly became popular, not
just in sweden but in a number of
foreign militaries as well.
The original
carl gustafm ones proved to be popular
in part because of the weapons rifle
barrel, which allowed for stabilization
of ammunition, while in the barrel and
which obviated the need for the use of
spring-loaded fins on the projectile
once it reached flight, a common feature
of other similar systems at the time. This gave the car augustus projectile
much greater range than its competitors.
By 1964 an improved version of the
original Carl Gustaf M1, labelled the M2
had been developed.
Like many portable anti-tank weapons
developed during this period the carl
gustif series of weapons are classed as
recoilless rifles which emerged as a
popular choice for anti-tank weapons in
the aftermath of World War II.
Recoilless
weapons functioned by using propellant
gases or some other form of counter mass
such as liquid or powder and expelling
them from the rear of the launch tube
tuber barrel.
Indeed, while other recoila systems began
to fade away in favor of anti-tank
missile systems, the Carl Gustaf has
remained relevant through the
introduction of new, more modern variants.
The third variant of the carl gustav
system designated the M3 was first
introduced in the early 1990s and was
again adopted by a host of foreign
militaries.
This included the united
states military which adopted the carl
gustaf M3 for use with both special
operations forces as well as army ranger
units. Referred to by the us military as
the M3 multi-role anti-armor
anti-personnel weapon system the M3
featured several improvements over its
predecessor variants, including a
reduction in wade and the addition of
the picante fire control device that can
be used as a mount for optical and night
sights.
The M3 is capable of firing a
range of different types of projectiles
including high explosive high explosive
anti-tank and high explosive dual
purpose rounds as well as both smoke and
illumination rounds. The M3's effective
range depends on the type of round fired
and varies from as little as 200 to as
far as 1300 meters.
The Carl Gustaf M4 weapon system is an
advanced derivative of the carl gustaf
m3 multipurpose, shoulder fired
recoilless weapon. Saab conducted a live
fire demonstration of the carl gustaf m4
artillery system at its beaufort's test
center in kurskoga sweden and september
2014.
The system performed a
comprehensive series of successful
firings against fixed and moving targets
during the ground combat systems
demonstration. Customers are offered sub
caliber trainers and full caliber
practice rounds as well as simulators to
meet their training needs.
Saab and
raytheon developed a laser guided carl
gustaf munition for the carl gustaf m4
recoilless rifle. The company's completed
test firings of the munition in october
2019.
