Defence producer Saab to arrange new facility in India, make weapons system By Reuters

By Devjyot Ghoshal

(Reuters) – Swedish defence merchandise firm Saab will arrange a facility to fabricate its Carl-Gustaf M4 weapons system in India, a high government mentioned on Tuesday, as the corporate seems to ramp up manufacturing.

The ability will start manufacturing in 2024, Senior Vice President Gorgen Johansson instructed reporters at a information convention.

Johansson declined to offer element on the funding that the corporate is prone to make within the facility.

The Carl-Gustaf M4 is a recoilless rifle which has been ordered by the Indian armed forces.

The brand new facility will assist its manufacturing in addition to elements for customers of the system all over the world, the corporate mentioned in a press release.

“We’ve not finished this in another nation”, Johansson mentioned.

India – the world’s largest purchaser of Russian arms – has been pushing to develop its defence manufacturing capability lately and develop its army exports.

From round 10 billion rupees ($122.62 million) of defence exports some eight years in the past, India is now exporting greater than 130 billion rupees of army tools, Indian defence minister Rajnath Singh mentioned on Tuesday.

“We have now set a goal of 1.75 trillion of defence manufacturing by 2025, which incorporates export of 350 billion,” Singh instructed a gathering of defence producers.

There’s been an elevated curiosity within the Carl-Gustaf weapon system, which can be utilized towards tanks, because the battle in Ukraine.

“Extra international locations will search anti-tank capabilities going ahead,” Johansson mentioned.

Earlier this yr, Saab mentioned it will increase capability to fulfill rising demand.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a “particular army operation”, has prompted many international locations, together with Saab’s house market Sweden, to spice up defence budgets.

($1 = 81.5510 Indian rupees)