Sweden Bofors Naval Guns: Sweden has ordered four new naval guns from defence company BAE Systems Bofors to improve the Swedish Navy’s ability to deal with air and sea threats. The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) has placed the order for the Bofors 57Mk3 guns, with deliveries expected in 2028 and 2029.
The new guns will replace older guns fitted on some Swedish Navy ships. FMV hasn’t shared the names of the ships that will receive the new systems. The contract value has also not been made public by FMV or BAE Systems.
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New Bofors Guns to Help Counter Drone Threats
The order includes the Bofors 57Mk3 naval guns and 57 mm 3P ammunition. It also covers training and other services needed to bring the new guns into use.
The 3P ammunition is made to work against different types of targets. It is pre-fragmented and can be programmed automatically inside the gun barrel. This helps the navy use the ammunition against different threats in the air and on the water.
Olof Öhrström, head of FMV’s ship systems unit, said the new equipment will help the navy deal with the growing threat from drones.
“The new guns and the programmable ammunition strengthen the navy’s ability to counter threats from, for example, both aerial and surface drones,” Öhrström said, reported Nordic defence sector.
Drones are becoming a concern for naval forces because they can approach ships from the air or move across the water. The new guns and ammunition are expected to give Swedish Navy ships more ways to respond to these threats.
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Bofors 57Mk3 Can Be Used Against Different Targets
BAE Systems describes the Bofors 57Mk3 as a multi-purpose naval gun. It can be used for air defence, fighting threats on the water and providing fire support from ships.
When used with 57 mm 3P ammunition, the gun can target drones, aircraft, missiles and other targets on the water. This makes it useful for dealing with different threats rather than being limited to just one type of target.
