Munitions

ILLUM 545C

Also known as
  • 84 mm ILLUM 545C
  • Carl-Gustaf ILLUM 545C
  • Carl Gustaf ILLUM 545C

ILLUM 545C is Saab's fielded 84 mm Carl-Gustaf illumination round, a parachute-suspended support munition for the M4 family. Saab lists seven preset ranges from 300 to 2,100 metres, a 400 to 500 metre illuminated area, and about 30 seconds of light for night operations.

ILLUM 545C, 84 mm illumination round, Munitions
Image source: DVIDS Trident Juncture 2018 illumination round image
Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Sweden
Built by
Saab
Type
84 mm illumination round

Specifications

Caliber
84 mm
Complete round weight
3.1 kg
Effective range
300-2,100 m
Illuminated area
400-500 m diameter
Burn time
30 s
Muzzle velocity
260 m/s
Range settings
Seven preset ranges
Suspension
Parachute-suspended illuminant
Status
Fielded
Illumination Data

Saab describes ILLUM 545C as a parachute-supported 84 mm support round for night battlefield illumination.

FeatureValueReader note
Weight3.1 kgComplete round mass.
Range300-2,100 mSeven preset range settings.
Illuminated area400-500 m diameterArea lit by the suspended illuminant.
Burn time30 sApproximate light duration.
Muzzle velocity260 m/sLaunch velocity.
StatusFieldedSaab's fact sheet lists the round as fielded.
Firing Weapon

Saab places ILLUM 545C in the Carl-Gustaf 84 mm ammunition family for the M4 launcher and describes every munition in the family as compatible with every version of the weapon.

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

Saab lists ILLUM 545C as Carl-Gustaf ammunition and describes illumination as the family support role for lighting tactical areas during night operations.

Sources: Saab 84 mm ILLUM 545C fact sheet, Saab Carl-Gustaf M4 product page, Saab Ground Combat Systems Handbook 2026

Identification limit

The public-domain DVIDS image documents Carl-Gustaf 84 mm illumination-round training during NATO exercise Trident Juncture, but it does not identify the fired rounds as ILLUM 545C.

Sources: DVIDS Trident Juncture 2018 illumination round image

Round-Class Evidence

Military training sources often describe the ammunition class rather than the exact manufacturer designation. DVIDS identifies German VJTF soldiers firing Carl-Gustaf 84 mm illumination rounds during NATO exercise Trident Juncture in 2018; that supports the launcher and round-class context, not direct evidence of ILLUM 545C use in a named conflict.

Evidence typeWhat it supportsLimit
Saab fact sheetExact ILLUM 545C designation, fielded status, range settings, burn time, and illumination area.Manufacturer data, not combat-use evidence.
Saab M4 pageCarl-Gustaf ammunition compatibility and illumination as a night support role.Family-level context rather than a named operator use case.
DVIDS training imagePublic-domain image of 84 mm Carl-Gustaf illumination-round firing.Round class is identified; ILLUM 545C is not named.
Timeline

ILLUM 545C Key Events

  1. Carl-Gustaf illumination rounds appear in NATO training

    DVIDS imagery from Trident Juncture shows German 91st Infantry Battalion soldiers firing 84 mm Carl-Gustaf illumination rounds at Rena, Norway.

    Sources: DVIDS Trident Juncture 2018 illumination round image

  2. Saab publishes a dedicated ILLUM 545C fact sheet

    Saab's 84 mm ILLUM 545C fact sheet identifies the round as a fielded Carl-Gustaf illumination munition with seven preset range settings.

    Sources: Saab 84 mm ILLUM 545C fact sheet

  3. The Saab handbook still lists ILLUM 545C

    Saab's 2026 Ground Combat Systems handbook continues to place ILLUM 545C in the Carl-Gustaf ammunition family with the same core illumination data.

    Sources: Saab Ground Combat Systems Handbook 2026

Related Weapon Systems

Sources

Saab 84 mm ILLUM 545C fact sheetPublisher: Saab | Note: Supports ILLUM 545C's exact designation, fielded status, Carl-Gustaf ammunition-family placement, 3.1 kg complete-round weight, 300-2,100 m range, seven preset range settings, 400-500 m illuminated area, 30 second burn time, parachute-suspended illuminant, and manufacturer background. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Saab Ground Combat Systems Handbook 2026Publisher: Saab | Note: Supports ILLUM 545C's Carl-Gustaf ammunition-family placement, 3.1 kg complete-round weight, 300-2,100 m range, 400-500 m illuminated area, 30 second burn time, and manufacturer background. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Saab Carl-Gustaf M4 product pagePublisher: Saab | Note: Supports the Carl-Gustaf family context, compatibility claim for 84 mm munitions, and the illumination-round role described for the weapon family. | Accessed: 2026-06-29DVIDS Trident Juncture 2018 illumination round imagePublisher: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service | Note: Supports the public-domain gallery image and documents German 91st Infantry Battalion soldiers firing Carl-Gustaf 84 mm illumination rounds during NATO exercise Trident Juncture; the source identifies the round class but not ILLUM 545C by designation. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Small Arms Review Carl-Gustaf 84mm recoilless systemPublisher: Small Arms Review | Note: Supports ILLUM 545C's published weight, range, illumination area, burn time, and muzzle velocity. | Accessed: 2026-06-29