Swedish defense giant Saab received contract from French Direction generale de l'Armement for supplying next-generation light anti-tank weapon NLAW, company announced in press release.
This involves procurement of unnamed NLAW quantity including option for additional order, as well as simulators for both indoor and outdoor training firing. Agreement sum is also not disclosed.
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As zone militaire publication recalls, France needed considerable time to purchase NLAW French spoke about need to arm themselves with this without exaggeration legendary portable short-range anti-tank missile system back in summer 2024.
Then in infantry school Fantassins magazine, thoughts of Ground Forces Chief of Staff General Pierre Schill about need to purchase this ATGM as intermediate between AT4 disposable anti-tank grenade launcher and Akeron MP ATGM were published.
Such decision was made based on analysis of first weeks of russian full-scale Ukraine invasion experience, when specifically NLAW and other anti-tank systems in Ukrainian Armed Forces military hands played significant role in countering russian occupation forces armored vehicles.
However, it turns out France purchased NLAW with as much as two-year delay, with previous goal being to arm French military infantry units with these ATGMs already by end of 2025.
Why ultimately so much time was spent on making quite simple decision is not reported. At the same time, all this resulted in story that with help of Ukraine-tested CB90 boats and NLAW ATGMs, France convinced Sweden to choose FDI frigates.
It remains unclear how France planned to complete NLAW rearmament by end of 2025. For example, Saab currently noted deliveries under existing contract for French military will start this year and continue through 2030.
Previously, Defense Express reported that in 2022 Javelin stopped russian tanks and demand for this ATGM grows even in drone era.
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