Swedish SAAB accepts ‘Make in India and Make for the World’ offer

New Delhi: It's not just Make in India, it's also Make for the World. Saab, which makes the Gripen fighter plane, has decided to manufacture the new M4 model of the Carl Gustaf-- an anti-tank weapon but it has other uses, in India.

The Indian Army, which has used earlier versions of the Carl Gustaf, some of them made by the Ordnance Factory Board under license, has ordered the M4, Gorgen Johansson, senior Saab official told TIMES NOW. After the new factory is set up (it isn't clear where), the products manufactured will go to the Indian armed forces and the rest, back to Sweden. It will be reexported from Sweden, but keeping in mind the export restrictions of the Swedish government, not to Pakistan, he said.

Keeping in mind the Russian attack on Ukraine, he said that more countries will want anti-tank capabilities. Already 15 countries have ordered the M4. This will mean many, many jobs for Indians once the factory gets set up and begins production in 2024.

The Indian government, Johansson added, was supporting the decision though it is yet to get final clearance. The Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is expected to be 100 per cent, but could be 74 per cent, he said. Initially, all the components will be imported but over time, the M4 will have locally made stuff. Meanwhile, the OFB can continue to make the earlier version of Carl Gustaf if it wishes.

It's still not clear where the factory will be, how many will be produced and just how many will be exported via Sweden. But the hostilities in the Ukraine means more demand for the Carl Gustaf and it means, manufacture in India and make for buyers all over the world.