Raytheon, Saab Demonstrate New Carl-Gustaf Munition for U.S. Army
Raytheon Company and Swedish aerospace and defense firm Saab are demonstrating a new guided munition for the Carl-Gustaf man-portable, shoulder-launched weapon system under a U.S. Army contract. There will be three all-up-round test firings against threat-representative targets. This new munition answers a U.S. Special Operations Command requirement to increase the capability of the multirole Carl-Gustaf weapon system built by Saab.
The Carl-Gustaf weapon system is used by the U.S. Army and ground forces of more than 40 other countries and has been modernized to meet the changing needs of soldiers operating in the world’s most demanding combat environments.
“The Carl-Gustaf system paired with this new guided munition gives U.S. and coalition dismounted forces a tremendous advantage on the battlefield,” said Kim Ernzen, Raytheon Land Warfare Systems vice president. “The munition is intended to enable ground troops to engage multiple targets precisely at distances up to 2,000 meters, including moving targets.”
The munition’s advanced warhead penetrates light armor, bunkers and concrete structures while minimizing collateral damage. With increased range, the new munition offers greater protection for ground troops by enabling them to fire at targets from inside structures.
In 2017, Raytheon announced its partnership with Saab to develop new weapons for infantry forces. Raytheon and Saab will oversee test firing of the guided Carl-Gustaf munition planned for 2020 in Sweden.
New Million-Dollar Grant Program
The National Shooting Sports Foundation® (NSSF®) announced its partnership with the Hunting Heritage Trust to create a first-of-its-kind million-dollar grant program in support of hunting and the shooting sports recruitment efforts.
The Hunting Heritage Trust and the NSSF are donating $500,000 to the new grant program. The Hunting Heritage Trust was created in 2002 by leaders in the hunting, shooting sports and conservation communities “to fund and foster programs that enhance appreciation of our hunting heritage and increase public understanding and participation in recreational shooting sports.”
Each year, beginning in 2019, organizations meeting certain eligibility requirements may apply for an annual $100,000 grant to be used to support recruitment, retention and reactivation (R3) programs within the hunting and shooting sports industry. The grant program will be offered for a period of not less than 10 years, and while all organizations with formalized R3 programs will be considered for each year’s award, an emphasis will be placed on programs focusing on youth and non-traditional participants.
“Providing the resources to those newly interested in learning about firearms safety and the shooting sports, sparking renewed interest in those who used to hunt or shoot, and keeping up interest of those engaged in hunting and the shooting sports, is of paramount importance to our industry,” said Steve Sanetti, NSSF CEO. “The new NSSF Hunting Heritage Trust grant program provides much-needed funding for these efforts.”
“The Hunting Heritage Trust has awarded dozens of grants totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars over the past 15 years, but none will have a greater long-term impact on the future of our hunting and shootings sports heritage than this $500,000 grant,” said Bob Delfay, President of the Hunting Heritage Trust and former NSSF President. “There is no organization more dedicated than NSSF when it comes to R3 efforts in our industry. From its research and educational services to its numerous conferences and summits, NSSF leads the way in providing the tools our industry members need to get people actively, regularly involved in hunting and the shooting sports. We are pleased to partner with them in creating this important grant program in support of those efforts.”
