Japan orders Carl-Gustaf recoilless rifles from Saab

The Carl-Gustaf M4 (pictured above) is an 84 mm, shoulder-fired, one-manportable, breech-loaded, percussion-fired, recoilless rifle. (ECDI)

The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) has ordered 300 Carl-Gustaf 84 mm shoulder-fired recoilless rifles from Swedish defence company Saab, the company said in a press release on 19 October.

Without specifying the Carl-Gustaf variant to be acquired by the JGSDF or the cost of the order, Saab said the rifles will be delivered in 2025.

Janes assesses that the JGSDF order potentially includes the procurement of Saab's latest Carl-Gustaf variant, the M4.

According to Janes Weapons: Infantry,the Carl-Gustaf M4 is a further development of the M3 model, featuring lighter weight, greater ergonomics, and reduced overall dimensions.

The M4 weighs 6.7 kg, 3 kg lighter than the earlier Carl-Gustaf M3 and half the weight of the 14.2 kg M2 version.

According to Saab, the JGSDF first inducted one of the earlier variants of Carl-Gustaf in 1979.

A spokesperson for Saab refused to comment to Janes request for information on the variant and cost of the current order.

Apart from Carl-Gustaf, the JGSDF will start inducting new firearms such as Type 20 5.56×45 mm assault rifles, Fabrique Nationale (FN) Herstal's Minimi Mk 3 light machine guns (LMGs), and German handgun manufacturer Heckler & Koch's (H&K's) G28 E2 anti-personnel sniper guns from 2024.