NLAW and Goose M4 on Display

The Saab Carl Gustav M4 RR with the Hensoldt 4X holographic sight and a bevy of 84mm ammo manufactured by Saab.

SHAH ALAM: Saab displayed inert versions of its NLAW and Carl Gustav M4 recoilless rifle at the recent DSA 2024. And more importantly the officials manning the stand confirmed that the Malaysian Army has procured the NLAW and will soon take delivery of the Goose M4.

This is unlike in the past where the Saab officials will deny even the sale of the NLAWs let alone its delivery. They will happily only discuss the virtues of the Goose M4. This time around the officials there even said both the NLAW and Goose M4 displayed at the stand are the like the ones purchased by the Army. They will also say the 84mm ammunition displayed manufactured by Saab are the only ones cleared for the Goose M4 and even the M2. The Army bought 84mm ammunition from another manufacturer previously.

Saab NLAW, Carl Gustav M4, NLAW Outdoor trainer and an array of 84mm ammo for the Goose. Malaysian Defence picture.

The Goose M4 is fitted with a Hensoldt 4X holographic sight. And even with the sight, the Goose weighs only 7kg compared to the old M2 which is about 14kg, the same weight of the NLAW with its single round on board.
The Saab Carl Gustav M4 with the Hensoldt 4X holographic sight and a bevy of 84mm ammo also manufactured by Saab.

Of course, carrying the Goose M4 for a 10km walk will still be hard but it is much easier than the M2. As the NLAW is a fire and forget weapon one should not think too much about its weight though.
An inspection of a Carl Gustaf M2 with 10th Para Brigade in February 2020. BTDM.

The NLAW and the Nammo M72 LAWs are in service with the GGK and 10th Para Brigade. The brigade will also be operating the Goose M4 replacing the M2. The disposable version Instalanza C90s will also be issued to both units. The Goose M4 will also see service with other infantry units together with the reloadable version of the C90s.
Instalaza C-90. Instalanza

The C90s are expected to be delivered next year.

— Malaysian Defence

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23 Comments

  1. NLAW, M72 LAW, C90… is there a good reason to have so many variety of LAWS? Do they each serve a different purpose despite being one-shoters or more of a ‘the more variety the merrier’? Not to speculate on the various ATGMs but Im wondering if we could standardise to a single type of disposable LAW.

  2. ”there a good reason to have so many variety of LAWS?”

    The plus point is the require no servicing/maintenance.

    NLAW is a guided weapon. The rest are unguided shoulder fired weapons. We did ”standardise to a single type of disposable LAW” but in the late 1990’s when all we had were C-90s.

  3. dundun – ”what a hypocritical bunch”

    Why? What does ethics have to do with anything? At times it’s the customer which wishes as little as possible to be revealed.

  4. Is tge goose M2 will be retired and replaced by the M4, or it will still be used for other infantry units, inclusive of the wataniah?

  5. @ marhalim

    ” some will be disposable some reloadable ”

    okay noted

  6. Personal view, let the M2 goose bequeth down to Wataniah to gether with Anza Mk1. The regular infantry should also get new SAM manpads the like of Piorun or Anza Mk3 and another type of Nti Tank weapon such as Alcotan C100

  7. “The C90 is replacing the M72 LAW”
    Ehh what? Didnt we just bought the M72 as recent as 2017, so 7 years isnt that old for a sealed weapon, is it?

  8. kamal – ”the M2 goose bequeth down to Wataniah to gether with Anza Mk1. ”

    The Carl Gustav has a long shelf life; unlike MANPADs.

    kamal – ”Tank weapon such as Alcotan C100”

    Ok but why? Because it really fits our requirements and offers something a Karoak or a NLAW doesn’t or because you think it’s a great option?

    ”so 7 years isnt that old for a sealed weapon, is it?”

    How long something lasts also depends on the conditions it’s stored in. If stored in conditions not specified by the OEM the shelf life is reduced.

  9. The M2 versions already equipped the Wataniah units during the 70’s. I have been trained on its use too but never fired one as rounds are expensive

  10. “Yes replaced once all the stocks are used up. They are single shot weapons”
    Was the M72 not up to snuff to meet our needs that we did not go for new orders or something else? Nammo is an established maker so I dont think it would be a quality or usability issue.

  11. “Didnt we just bought the M72 as recent as 2017”

    The 1st batch was earlier. A used round used at Lahad Dato was displayed by the army. A pic I took of it was listed here years ago.

    The one elusive round is the Ruag RPG round which Tempur reported we bought about a decade ago. Never seen it. Also a bit strange why we haven’t bought various types of RPG rounds. As far as I know we only have HEAT. Themobaric rounds would be useful for urban work but apparently [no idea if really true] they don’t work so good in our humidity.

  12. Are you referring the single shot M72? Not sure if it has TB round variant but if sealed it should not be significantly affected by humidity unless it was breakout much earlier before firing..

  13. ”Are you referring the single shot M72?”

    Yes, was bought way before 2017.

    ”if sealed it should not be significantly affected by humidity”

    Was referring to ‘themobaric rounds’ for other weapons. How something is stored also plays a major part : in a AC room, room with humidifiers or in the open but with a zinc roof? AC goes some way in dealing with humidity but OEMs [as told to be by a MBDA chap] recommend against it because it can lead to a build up of moisture in electronics. Something can be sealed but if stored improperly will things will degrade.

    Also I meant that humidity apparently had a n affect on the performance of themobaric rounds; not their shelf life.

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