The Netherlands will replace German grenade launchers with Swedish Carl Gustaf

May 17, 2025 16:12 Roman Pryhodko

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The Netherlands will replace its outdated German Panzerfaust 3 anti-tank grenade launchers with more modern Swedish Carl Gustaf M4 grenade launchers.

This was reported by the publication Hartpunkt.

The new grenade launchers from Saab will replace the Panzerfaust 3, which have been in service with the Dutch army for about 30 years.

According to the Dutch Ministry of Defence, a contract for the purchase of new weapons was signed on May 14. The delivery of grenade launchers will begin this year and continue until 2028.

As noted by Hartpunkt, the choice in favor of the Carl Gustaf M4 is somewhat surprising, as it differs from the plans announced at the end of 2020.

At that time, the Ministry of Defence informed parliament that the Netherlands planned to expand the anti-tank capabilities of all its forces by purchasing new systems and replenishing existing stocks.

In addition, the letter stated that not only combat units but also support units should be equipped with means to counter tanks.

The previously announced modernization plan provided for different systems for different categories of troops, but now the Dutch Ministry of Defence has decided to standardize the weapons and equip all categories of units with a single system — the Carl Gustaf M4.

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It should be noted that Carl Gustaf is already in service in more than 40 countries, including Lithuania, which recently, in 2025, has purchased this anti-tank system.

The Carl Gustaf is a multi-purpose 84 mm recoilless grenade launcher developed by the Swedish company Saab. It is known for its versatility, light weight, and ability to use a variety of ammunition, including anti-tank, anti-personnel, and programmable shells.

The M4 version of the grenade launcher was developed in 2014 to replace older versions. The M4 weighs 6.6 kg, which is 30% less than the previous M3 model, and provides better mobility and ease of use.

The M4 version also features a new sighting system with an integrated laser rangefinder that calculates the range and elevation angle of the grenade launcher for accurate targeting.