Munitions

HEAT 551C RS

Also known as
  • 84 mm HEAT 551C RS
  • Carl-Gustaf HEAT 551C RS
  • Carl Gustaf HEAT 551C RS

HEAT 551C RS is Saab's Swedish 84 mm Carl-Gustaf anti-armour round for the M4 family. Saab describes it as a rocket-assisted evolution of HEAT 551 with reduced-sensitivity insensitive-munition characteristics, significant behind-armour effect, and a 700 m effective range.

HEAT 551C RS, 84 mm anti-armour round with reduced sensitivity, Munitions
Image source: Wikimedia Commons MSPO2007-40.jpg
Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Sweden
Built by
Saab
Type
84 mm anti-armour round with reduced sensitivity
Developed from
HEAT 551

Specifications

Caliber
84 mm
Weight
3.5 kg
Effective range
700 m
Targets
Armoured vehicles and main battle tanks
Warhead
Rocket-assisted HEAT
Sensitivity
Reduced sensitivity (RS)
Variants

HEAT 551C RS sits in Saab's Carl-Gustaf anti-armour ammunition family between the earlier HEAT 551 and later tandem-warhead rounds intended for explosive reactive armour.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
HEAT 551, 84 mm anti-armour round, MunitionsHEAT 551Earlier rocket-assisted HEAT round

Saab describes HEAT 551C RS as an evolution of HEAT 551 with improved insensitive-munition properties and greater behind-armour effect.

Sources: Saab Ground Combat Systems Handbook 2026, EDR Magazine Carl-Gustaf HEAT 758 analysis

HEAT 751, 84 mm tandem anti-armour round, MunitionsHEAT 751Tandem-warhead anti-ERA round

Saab's ammunition family places HEAT 751 after the 551-series rounds as the tandem-warhead option for MBTs fitted with explosive reactive armour.

Sources: Saab Ground Combat Systems Handbook 2026

HEAT 758, 84 mm anti-tank round, MunitionsHEAT 758Newer advanced anti-tank round

Saab and EDR describe HEAT 758 as a newer Carl-Gustaf anti-tank round designed around advanced ERA defeat, with a 3.7 kg complete weight and 600 m effective range.

Sources: Saab Ground Combat Systems Handbook 2026, EDR Magazine Carl-Gustaf HEAT 758 analysis

Firing Weapons

Saab places HEAT 551C RS in the Carl-Gustaf 84 mm ammunition family and describes it as compatible with the M4 system.

CarrierCarrier typeCarriage evidence
Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle, Recoilless rifle, Infantry WeaponsCarl Gustaf recoilless rifle84 mm recoilless rifle

Saab lists HEAT 551C RS as Carl-Gustaf ammunition, says it is a rocket-assisted 84 mm anti-armour round, and places it in the M4 family.

Sources: Saab Carl-Gustaf M4 product page, Saab Carl-Gustaf ammunition page, Saab Ground Combat Systems Handbook 2026

Anti-Armour Round Context

Saab's current Carl-Gustaf ammunition family separates the 551-series side-or-rear armour rounds from the tandem-warhead anti-ERA rounds. HEAT 551C RS keeps the 700 m range of HEAT 551 while adding reduced-sensitivity explosive characteristics and greater behind-armour effect.

RoundRole in familyPublished technical context
HEAT 551, 84 mm anti-armour round, MunitionsHEAT 551Earlier rocket-assisted HEAT round3.2 kg complete round for armoured vehicles and MBTs, with a 700 m effective range.
HEAT 551C RSReduced-sensitivity 551-series anti-armour round3.5 kg complete round; Saab describes it as a HEAT 551 evolution with improved insensitive-munition properties and significant behind-armour effect.
HEAT 751, 84 mm tandem anti-armour round, MunitionsHEAT 751Tandem-warhead anti-ERA round3.8 kg round for armoured vehicles and MBTs with ERA; Saab describes its tandem warhead as neutralising ERA before main-armour penetration.
HEAT 758, 84 mm anti-tank round, MunitionsHEAT 758Newer advanced anti-tank round3.7 kg round for MBTs, with a 600 m effective range and a precursor charge intended for any generation of ERA.

Sources: Saab Ground Combat Systems Handbook 2026; EDR Magazine Carl-Gustaf HEAT 758 analysis; JGSDF 84 mm recoilless rifle ammunition specification.

Timeline

HEAT 551C RS Key Events

  1. JGSDF ammunition specification approved

    Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force approved a commercial 84 mm recoilless-rifle ammunition specification later updated in 2024; its catalog table names Saab 84 mm HEAT 551C RS as the anti-tank round.

  2. Current-production family context reported

    EDR Magazine reported HEAT 551C RS as the currently produced 551-series anti-tank round while comparing it with HEAT 551, HEAT 751, and the newer HEAT 758.

Related Weapon Systems

Sources

Saab Carl-Gustaf M4 product pagePublisher: Saab | Note: Supports HEAT 551C RS's placement in the Carl-Gustaf M4 ammunition family, the system's 84 mm ammunition compatibility, and the weapon-system context for the round. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Saab Carl-Gustaf ammunition pagePublisher: Saab | Note: Supports HEAT 551C RS's listing in the Carl-Gustaf ammunition family and its anti-armour role. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Saab Ground Combat Systems Handbook 2026Publisher: Saab | Note: Supports HEAT 551C RS's Carl-Gustaf ammunition-family placement, 3.5 kg weight, 700 m effective range, evolution from HEAT 551 with reduced-sensitivity properties, and family context with HEAT 551, HEAT 751, and HEAT 758. | Accessed: 2026-06-29EDR Magazine Carl-Gustaf HEAT 758 analysisPublisher: EDR Magazine | Note: Supports HEAT 551C RS current-production and family-position context, including its relationship to HEAT 551, HEAT 751, and HEAT 758. | Accessed: 2026-06-29JGSDF 84 mm recoilless rifle ammunition specificationPublisher: Japan Ground Self-Defense Force | Note: Supports the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force service/procurement context and the listing of Saab Dynamics AB 84 mm HEAT 551C RS as anti-tank ammunition for 84 mm recoilless rifles. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Wikimedia Commons MSPO2007-40.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: File description identifies the rear-center round in the ammunition display photo as HEAT 551C RS; used for image provenance. | Accessed: 2026-06-29