The Carl Gustav recoilless rifle has existed in the U.S. Army inventory since 1989, when the 75th Ranger Regiment replaced the aging 90mm recoilless rifle with the newer design. The Gustav fires a variety of 84mm rounds, which it can be reloaded with, used to destroy enemy tanks, bunkers, structures, personnel, and other targets. Illumination rounds can be used to light up the night and smoke rounds can be used to conceal friendly forces.
As the Army focuses on improving "lethality" some believe that the key to Infantry lethality is the Carl Gustav, as it has been somewhat neglected and misunderstood according to Lt. Col. Max Ferguson who argues that the reason why the Gustave (Goose for short) hasn't been properly employed is because most soldiers didn't get to see it in action in Afghanistan and Iraq, and due to a lack of training munitions.
One of the difficulties in training and using the Gustav is blast overpressure. Today, it is well known that soldiers repeatedly exposed to blasts can suffer serious cognitive effects known as Traumatic Brain Injury. Due to this, a soldier is only allowed to fire a certain number of live Gustav rounds per day. However, there is an alternative with sub-caliber training munitions, which allow an insert to be placed into the tube and when the recoilless rifle is fired, a 7.62mm tracer round is fired at the target. This way, soldiers can avoid blast overpressure issues.
In recent years, both the Carl Gustav itself as well as the weapons sights have gone through substantial upgrades.
The main reason why Ferguson thinks the Goose is a key component of the Infantry platoon is due to the new Fire Control System fielded in 2024, called the FCS13. "The new M3A1 [Gustav] paired with the FCS is the difference between a flip phone and a smartphone. Technically, they both text, take pictures, and make calls, but there’s no comparison to the functionality, speed, and qualitative difference between the two," Ferguson writes in Infantry magazine.
The FCS13 has a built-in laser rangefinder which allows Gustav gunners to range both stationary or moving targets, and tells the gunner how to lead the target when firing to ensure a successful hit.
"The M3A1 [Gustav] is in every IBCT rifle company’s arms room right now, itching to get the attention it deserves," Ferguson concludes.