In a move to enhance its presence in key defence markets, Saab, the Swedish defence and aerospace company, has embarked on two endeavours – the construction of a new manufacturing facility in India, and the signing of a contract with Poland for the delivery of Carl-Gustaf M4 weapons, ammunition, and training equipment.
The ceremony for Saab's new Carl-Gustaf manufacturing facility in India marks a moment for the company, signalling its first production venture outside Sweden. Situated in the state of Haryana, the facility represents an investment by Saab, further solidifying its commitment to the Indian market. With the establishment of Saab FFVO India Pvt Ltd, the company aims to leverage India's industry and workforce to produce the Carl-Gustaf M4, a weapon system with a history of service in the Indian Armed Forces since 1976.
"It is a testament to the strong bilateral relationship between our countries," remarked Görgen Johansson, senior vice president and head of Saab's business area Dynamics, during the ceremony. "I am proud to start constructing our first facility outside Sweden for Carl-Gustaf, a product that has a long history with the Indian Armed Forces. We look forward to starting production of our excellent product, now engineered and made in India."
Simultaneously, Saab has signed a contract with Poland, valued at SKr 12.9bn ($1.3bn), to deliver Carl-Gustaf M4 systems over 2024-2027. This contract shows the Polish Ministry of Defence's confidence in Saab's capabilities and reaffirms the company's position as a global provider of ground combat solutions.
"We are honoured to deepen our collaboration with the Polish Armed Forces through this significant contract," stated Micael Johansson, CEO and President of Saab. "The Carl-Gustaf system's versatility and effectiveness make it an invaluable asset for enhancing Poland's defence capabilities and safeguarding national security."
The Carl-Gustaf system continues to be a cornerstone of modern ground combat operations. With its latest iteration, the Carl-Gustaf M4, Saab offers a man-portable solution to address a spectrum of mission requirements.
In recent years, Saab has received orders from various countries for Carl-Gustaf ammunition and systems. Australia, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, the UK, and the US have all placed orders totalling millions of dollars.
Throughout 2023, Saab has seen consistent sales of the Carl-Gustaf system, driven by factors such as lessons learned from conflicts like the Ukraine-Russia war—the cumulative value of these deals exceeding $500m (SKr5.2bn).
As Saab advances its presence in India and strengthens partnerships in Poland, the company reaffirms its commitment to delivering defence solutions tailored to meet the evolving needs of its global clientele.
