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Swedish defence major Saab's subsidiary, FFV Ordnance, has been named the lowest bidder (L1) to supply the Indian Army with 450 units of the advanced Carl-Gustaf M4 rocket launchers. The company submitted a financial bid of ₹471.87 crore for the contract.
Production of these shoulder-fired weapons will take place at Saab’s newly established plant in Reliance MET City, Jhajjar, Haryana, which holds the distinction of being the first Carl-Gustaf manufacturing site located outside of Sweden.
This procurement is a critical step in the Indian Army's ongoing efforts to modernise its infantry units. At a total investment of ₹471.87 crore, the armed forces are aiming to significantly boost the firepower of frontline troops.
The newly ordered 84mm Mark-IV systems will replace the older M2 and M3 variants that the military has been operating since the 1970s, bringing a much lighter and highly versatile weapon to the battlefield.
Saab's manufacturing unit in Haryana operates under India's 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) route, making it the country's first defence manufacturing facility fully owned by a foreign company.
Setting up this plant directly supports the government's 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' initiative. Not only will the facility fulfill the current order for the Indian Army, but it will also strengthen the domestic defence manufacturing ecosystem.
Under this comprehensive contract, the military will receive the rocket launchers along with a suite of advanced aiming accessories. These include red-dot sights and advanced digital fire-control systems, which are designed to help soldiers lock onto targets faster and achieve a higher success rate on their first shot.
The agreement further includes a 24-month initial warranty, as well as an extensive 15-year product support plan to keep the weapons combat-ready over the long term.
Built using advanced materials like titanium and carbon fibre, the Carl-Gustaf M4 weighs just under seven kilograms. This significant weight reduction lessens physical strain on troops, allowing them to remain agile in combat.
The recoilless rifle can fire a wide array of 84mm ammunition, such as anti-structure, anti-armour, and airburst projectiles, many of which are already manufactured locally by Munitions India Limited.
This adaptability makes it highly effective in varied settings, from dense forests and urban areas to open plains.
A major advantage of the M4 system is its ability to perform in extreme weather conditions.
The weapon is rated to operate flawlessly in temperatures as low as -20°C and as high as +50°C, making it ideal for deployments in both the freezing heights of the Himalayas and the scorching heat of the Thar Desert.
Furthermore, the launcher boasts a robust lifespan of either 15 years or 1,500 fired rounds, offering exceptional durability for soldiers on the ground.
Because the M4 launcher is fully backward-compatible with the Army’s existing stockpiles of legacy 84mm ammunition, the transition for military logisticians will be smooth.
The weapon’s multi-role design provides immense value across different mission profiles, including counter-insurgency operations and conventional warfare.
Looking ahead, the new Saab factory in Haryana will collaborate with local Indian vendors to source components, which opens up the potential for exporting Indian-made Carl-Gustaf launchers to global markets.
By outfitting infantry battalions with the lightweight Carl-Gustaf M4, the Indian military is actively preparing for future combat challenges where speed, accuracy, and versatility are essential.
This contract not only diminishes the country's reliance on directly imported weaponry but also establishes India as a prominent global hub for modern defence production.
