HEAT 551 is Saab's 84 mm Carl-Gustaf anti-armour round for the M4 launcher. Saab describes it as a rocket-assisted HEAT munition with a shaped-charge warhead and 700 m effective range, while a March 2022 Ukrainian Ground Forces instruction identifies HEAT RAP FFV 551 in Carl Gustav fielding and training context.
A March 2022 Ukrainian Ground Forces Carl Gustav instruction identifies HEAT RAP FFV 551 and includes crew carriage and handling procedures for the round, supporting Ukrainian fielding and training context during the full-scale phase of the war rather than a specific documented combat firing.
Role detailsHEAT 551 is the baseline rocket-assisted Carl-Gustaf HEAT round in Saab's anti-armour ammunition line; later 551C RS, 751, and 758 rounds address reduced-sensitivity or explosive-reactive-armour requirements.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
 | Reduced-sensitivity 551-series round | Saab describes HEAT 551C RS as a HEAT 551 evolution with improved insensitive-munition properties and significant behind-armour effect. Sources: Saab Ground Combat Systems Handbook 2026, EDR Magazine Carl-Gustaf HEAT 758 analysis |
 | Tandem-warhead anti-ERA round | Saab places HEAT 751 after the 551-series rounds as the tandem shaped-charge option for main battle tanks fitted with explosive reactive armour. |
 | Later Firebolt-compatible anti-tank round | EDR and Saab describe HEAT 758 as a newer Carl-Gustaf anti-tank round shaped around newer explosive-reactive-armour threats and Firebolt-compatible fire-control integration. Sources: Saab Ground Combat Systems Handbook 2026, EDR Magazine Carl-Gustaf HEAT 758 analysis |
Saab places HEAT 551 in the Carl-Gustaf 84 mm ammunition family and describes every 84 mm Carl-Gustaf munition as compatible with every weapon version.
| Firing weapon | Weapon type | Firing evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | 84 mm recoilless rifle | Saab's handbook lists HEAT 551 as Carl-Gustaf ammunition and says it is a rocket-assisted 84 mm round for armoured vehicles and MBTs; Saab's M4 page gives the family-wide compatibility rule. Sources: Saab Ground Combat Systems Handbook 2026, Saab Carl-Gustaf M4 product page |
HEAT 551 is the earlier single shaped-charge, rocket-assisted anti-armour round in Saab's 84 mm Carl-Gustaf family. Saab's current handbook presents it as a side-or-rear-aspect round for armoured vehicles and MBTs, followed by the reduced-sensitivity 551C RS and tandem-warhead rounds for explosive-reactive-armour targets.
| Round | Family role | Source-backed context |
|---|---|---|
| HEAT 551 | Baseline HEAT round | Rocket-assisted shaped-charge round with a 700 m effective range; Saab's 2026 handbook lists 3.2 kg while the February 2020 fact sheet lists 3.5 kg. |
| Reduced-sensitivity evolution | Saab describes the 551C RS as a HEAT 551 evolution with improved insensitive-munition properties and significant behind-armour effect. |
| Tandem anti-ERA round | Saab places HEAT 751 after the 551-series rounds as a tandem shaped-charge round for main battle tanks with explosive reactive armour. |
| Later anti-tank round | EDR describes HEAT 758 as a newer anti-tank round shaped by newer explosive-reactive-armour threats and Firebolt-compatible fire-control integration. |
Saab's February 2020 HEAT 551 fact sheet described the round as combat-proven 84 mm Carl-Gustaf M4 ammunition with a shaped-charge warhead and 700 m effective range.
Sources: Saab HEAT 551 fact sheet
A March 2022 Ukrainian Ground Forces Carl Gustav instruction identified HEAT RAP FFV 551 and described crew carriage and handling procedures for the ammunition.
Sources: Ukrainian Ground Forces Carl Gustav instruction 2022
EDR Magazine described the 551-series lineage, identifying HEAT 551C RS as the current 551-series production round while comparing it with HEAT 751 and HEAT 758.
Sources: EDR Magazine Carl-Gustaf HEAT 758 analysis
