The company said the round addresses the increasing use of explosive reactive armour, or ERA, on modern battlefields. HEAT 758 uses a tandem warhead configuration intended to neutralise reactive armour before penetrating the vehicle’s main armour protection.
According to Saab, the initial charge detonates the ERA mounted on the exterior of the target vehicle. The main charge then penetrates the underlying armour, with the company stating the round can defeat up to 700 millimetres of armour.
Saab said the capability is intended to counter heavily protected armoured vehicles. The company added that an undisclosed customer has already placed an order for the new round and that production is underway.
“This round is our response of developments of the battlefield where reactive explosive armour has become a major problem for regular munitions trying to defeat armoured vehicles,” said Michael Höglund, head of Saab’s business unit Ground Combat.
“HEAT 758 is an example of how Saab continues to generate ever more capable products while decreasing the armoured vehicle threat to the operator,” he added. Saab said the munition is intended to improve survivability and effectiveness for infantry operators.
The new round incorporates Saab’s Firebolt technology. This allows communication between the munition, the Carl-Gustaf M4 launcher and the Fire Control Device 558.
According to the company, the integration is designed to simplify the gunner’s workload and improve first-round hit probability. Saab said the technology supports faster and more accurate target engagement during combat operations.
