BOFORS GUNS

Gujarat Global News Network, Kolkata

The Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) is poised to bridge the near 25-year void of the Indian Army's requirement of artillery guns.

"Today OFB is in a position to offer not only the Bofors gun but even the upgraded version of Bofors gun," Director General Ordnance Factory (DGOF) and Chairman OFB, Shri Sashi Dhar Dimri said on the sidelines of the 210th anniversary of OFB in Kolkata, on Monday.

OFB is readying the upgraded version of Bofors gun from its original 39-calibre to a 45-calibre gun, with mechanical and electronic suite upgrades, for field trials by January 2013.

"We are working on this upgraded version. This has been tried out in PXE (Proof and Experimental Establishment), Balasore." he stated. Extensive firing has been carried out at PXE Balasore as part of the internal evaluation.

"Based on the guns supplied by the army, ab-initio we shall be manufacturing the gun and we are confident that in the beginning of 2013, our GCF (Gun Carriage Factory), Jabalpur will be in a position to field the gun for trial purposes," he said.

While one gun has been upgraded with the electronic suite incorporating ballistic computers, servo valves and communication systems to provide automation, the second gun has been upgraded by fitting a new 45 calibre long barrel, enabling it to achieve a range of 40 kms.

Meanwhile, in a written statement in the Parliament on Monday, Defence Minister Shri AK Antony stated: The government had secured the right of transfer of technology during the purchase of Bofors guns. Though all the technological documents as per the ToT contract were received by OFB from M/s AB Bofors, the Transfer of Technology was not carried forward as the dealings with the technology provider, (M/s AB Bofors) were suspended. Further, no indent was placed by Army on OFB for manufacture and supply of complete gun system.

Capital expenditure of Rs. 376.55 crore has been sanctioned by the Government in March, 2012 for creation/augmentation of Large Calibre Weapon manufacturing capacity in Ordnance Factories.