BAE Systems has secured contracts worth around 171 million dollars to supply its Bofors 40mm and 57mm 3P programmable ammunition to Sweden and Finland, in a joint procurement arranged through the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) and Finland’s Defence Forces Logistics Command (FDF LOG COM).
Sweden will receive both 40mm and 57mm stocks to expand inventories for the Stridsfordon 90, naval guns and air-defence units. Finland’s order focuses on 57mm rounds for the Finnish Navy.
3P ammunition is designed as a flexible, multi-role round with selectable modes to counter drones, missiles, helicopters, swarming boats, surface vessels and land targets. The programmable fusing and pre-fragmented design intends to improve lethality against small, fast and hard-to-track threats that are increasingly central to Nordic and Baltic security planning.
Lena Gillström, president of BAE Systems Bofors, framed the deal as evidence of tightening regional defence cooperation. “As a trusted partner to Sweden and Finland, this joint purchase marks an important step in further strengthening defence capabilities in the region and enhancing bilateral cooperation to keep Europe safe,” she said. “We are delivering cutting-edge solutions to put our customers in the best position to meet future challenges.”
The ammunition will feed into a range of existing and planned Swedish systems, including 40mm anti-aircraft guns intended to counter unmanned aerial threats, and will bolster Finland’s surface combatants at a time of heightened focus on counter-UAS and close-range defence.
Bae backlog is so large and yet the stock price keeps dropping.
I hope it turns around sometime soon, I love this company and hope they start building more kit for the British military soon.
Surprised their stock keeps dropping, they’ve had massive orders this year haven’t they?!?!
Is it fair to assume the MoD will be placing an order for 3P rounds for the T31 fleet? Is it too early for Venturer? If others are re-/ordering, will we need to join the orderbooks soon, so our guns are not left tooth-less? Or are we sticking to a more convention, non-programmable round for the time being?