Swedish defence major Saab has completed the delivery of its new generation, anti-armour weapons system AT4 to the Indian armed forces, it announced ahead of Aero India 2025.
Saab Completes Deliveries of AT4 To The India
Swedish defence major Saab has completed the delivery of its new generation, anti-armour weapons system AT4 to the Indian armed forces, it announced ahead of Aero India 2025. In 2022, the company was awarded a contract by the Indian Army for the fully disposable, lightweight, man-portable, and unguided rocket launcher system. It will also be used by the Indian Air Force (IAF).
Incidentally, Saab hopes to start manufacturing the recoilless shoulder-fired weapons system, Carl-Gustaf, at its Haryana facility by early next year. This is the first such project in the defence sector which has come through the 100 percent foreign direct investment (FDI) route.
Sweden India Pact for Aircraft
He also said the company looks forward to wide-ranging discussions with IAF on its pitch for the Gripen E fighter aircraft for the country’s multi-role, fighter-aircraft (MRFA) deal.
“We can deliver the first Gripen E aircraft to the IAF within 3 years of the contract. And that too with indigenous content. We will set up a full-fledged manufacturing facility in India with full technology transfer,” said Kent-Ake Molin, campaign director and head of the Gripen for India Programme at Saab.
Aircraft Fleets of IAF
The IAF is down to a mere 31 fighter squadrons on paper against a sanctioned strength of 42. This number will go down further this year when two remaining squadrons of the MiG 21 Bison, already operating as one, get phased out. To date, more than 400 MiG-21 aircrafts have crashed killing more than 200 pilots leading it to be aptly dubbed as a “flying coffin” & “widow maker”.
At Aero India 2025, Saab will also showcase the next generation NLAW, a light anti-tank weapon, successfully used by the Ukrainians against Russian tanks. But this is not on offer to the Indian Army.
