Bofors
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- For the scandal involving Bofors AB's Indian contracts, see Bofors scandal.
The name Bofors has been associated with the iron industry for more than 350 years. Located in Karlskoga, Sweden, it originates from the hammer mill "Boofors" founded 1646. The company was founded in 1873.
In 1999 Saab purchased the Celsius Group, then the parent company for Bofors. In September 2000 United Defense Industries (UDI) of the United States acquired Bofors Weapons Systems (the heavy weapons division), while Saab retained the missile interests.
Thus Bofors is today split in two parts:
- BAE Systems Bofors (Acquired United Defense and its Bofors subsidiary in 2005)
- Saab Bofors Dynamics
Bofors' most famous owner was Alfred Nobel who owned the company from 1894 until his death in December of 1896. He had the key role in reshaping the iron manufacturer to a modern cannon manufacturer and chemical industry.
The name Bofors is strongly associated with a 40 mm anti-aircraft gun based on a Bofors design which was produced and used by both sides during World War II, and often called simply the Bofors Gun. The gun saw service on land and sea, and became so widely known that anti-aircraft guns in general were often referred to as Bofors guns. Another well-known gun made by the company was the Bofors 37 mm anti-tank gun, a standard anti-tank weapon used by a variety of armies early in the war. It was license-built in Poland and the USA and was also used in a variety of tanks, including the 7TP and M3A3 Stuart.
In recent years Bofors has lost much of its reputation in Sweden due to various suspect affairs, the most scandalous being the alleged but never proved kickbacks involved in securing a contract with the Indian Army in 1986.
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