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Bofors L-70 L/70 40mm automatic anti-aircraft gun
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The L/70 or L-70 is an anti-aircraft gun of 40mm caliber designed and manufactured by the Swedish Company Bofors. The Company was acquired in September 2000 by United Defense Industries, but since March 2005 has been a part of BAE Systems AB. The Bofors Defence 40 mm L/70 automatic anti-aircraft gun entered service with the Swedish Army in 1951 as the successor to the Bofors 40 mm L/60. Some upgrade package was made to the end of 2006 for the gun system and the ammunition. The Bofors L/70 40mm is intended for engaging high-speed aircraft flying at low altitudes, its chief characteristics being high speeds of elevation and traverse combined with a high rate of fire. The gun is normally fired electrically from a remote control. It can also be fired electrically from the gun position by means of the Bofor's local power control. In case the power supply fails, the gun can be operated purely mechanically from the mounting. The L/70 was used by many Western nations and was widely exported to Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and South America. The L/70 remains in widespread use although many systems have been replaced by surface-to-air missiles or are relegated to a secondary role. The new L/70 gun has also been used in various naval mounts and serves as the main armament for the CV9040 mechanized infantry fighting vehicle.
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| Variants |
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L/70 BOFI
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The Bofors Defence 40 mm BOFI (Bofors Optronic Fire control Instrument) gun system consists of a modified version of the basic 40 mm L/70 Type B, BOFI electro-optic fire control system and proximity fused ammunition. The fire-control system also includes a computer and laser range finder. Since it is of little use in adverse weather it is called a fair weather system.
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L/70 BOFI All weather or BOFI-R
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The L/70 BOFI all-weather has a multisensor fire control system using a J band pulse Doppler radar as the main sensor. The radar gives the system an all-weather operation and automatic acquisition and tracking capabilities. The BOFI-R can effectively engage fast-moving targets out to 4 km without external radar input.
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L/70 REMO
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The Bofors Defence 40-mm L/70 Renovation and Modernisation (REMO) program comprises a basic package, mainly for extending the gun's technical life span and several upgrading kits for increasing the effectiveness of the weapon. This includes a full overhaul and various upgrades that include a higher rate of fire, a new fire control system, and air burst programmer and ammunition. The new sight and fire control computer are the UTAAS, which is also fitted to the CV 90 mechanized infantry fighting vehicle. The air burst ammunition is of the 3P type. The L/70 REMO in Dutch service lacks the UTAAS sight but is fitted with a diesel APU and Flycatcher fire control integration.
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L/70 40mm Netherlands upgrade
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A modernized L/70 40mm version was used by the Netherlands army. The modernization included the installation of a new servo system, new amplifiers, an increased rate of fire kit (now 300 rds/min), ammunition racks, and a diesel power unit. It is no longer in service within the Netherlands armed forces.
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L/70 40mm Spanish upgrade
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A modernized version was used by the Spanish army. The system is equipped with Felis electro-optic automatic tracking system. Felis consists of a high-definition TV set with automatic tracking coupled to a telemetry laser, a portable target designator, and a radar interface.
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AOS 40mm L70 FADM Field Air Defence Mount Singapore technologies
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The AOS 40mm L70 FADM (Field Air Defence Mount) is an improved field version of the combat-proven, NATO standard 40mm L70 Air Defence Weapon System upgraded by Singapore Technologies defense Company. It is capable of intercepting all kinds of high-speed aerial and surface targets and is equipped with an electric drive aiming system for high tracking and aiming accuracies in super-quick time.
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TRIDON 40mm L/70 self-propelled air defence gun
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The Tridon 40mm L/70 is the gun system of Bofors installed on Volvo 725 6x6 truck chassis which is fitted with an armor-protected fully enclosed cab for the crew of five, although only two crew members are required to operate the system. It was never put into service.
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LVS 40mm L/70
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Bofors L/70 40mm anti-aircraft gun equipped with the LVS modular fire-control system designed as a private venture by Saab. The system has been successfully trialed with the Swedish Army on an L70 gun and entered service with the Swedish Army in 1994 and, since 1997, in service with the Royal Thai Army.
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| Technical Data |
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| Armament |
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The Bofors L/70 40mm uses a single-barrel 40mm caliber. The gun is a development of the original 40 mm Bofors gun, the term L-70 referring to the length of the barrel in caliber. The monobloc barrel is provided with a flash suppresser. The recuperator spring encircles the rear part of the barrel and this, together with the recuperator spring, forms an easily exchangeable unit. The recoil buffer is hydraulic and the breech mechanism has a vertically sliding breechblock, which opens and closes automatically. The rounds are loaded in 4-round clips, although most systems are fitted with a 26-round hopper. The cyclic rate of fire is 240 rpm and upgrade packages offer 300 rpm. The maximum effective range is 3 to 4 km. The Bofors L/70 40mm can fire a full range of ammunition as the PFHE Mk2, HCHE, HE-T, APC-T, and P-T.
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The Bofors L/70 is mounted on a four-wheel chassis and is usually towed by a 6x6 truck, which may also carry additional ammunition and the crew. In case of emergency, the L/70 may be fired from its wheels with much-reduced effectiveness. A shield is fitted at the front and on each side of the turntable.
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The Bofors L/70 40mm is based on a 4-wheel trailer with two outriggers and two jacks. The first version of the L/70 was based on a four-wheel carriage with four outriggers. The single 40mm L/70 automatic cannon is mounted on a turntable. In the firing position, one outrigger is deployed to each side, and one jack at the rear and the front for stabilizing the gun during firing. The crew of two consists of a gunner on the left and a loader on the right. There were two basic models of the L/70, Type A and B. Type B has a three-phase 220 V 50 Hz APU mounted on the rear of the carriage, whereas Type A is fed from an external power source. The high rate of fire of 240 rds/min is obtained by ramming the rounds during the runout, with the empty cartridge cases ejected towards the end of the recoil. In the remote control mode, the power operation devices for elevating and traversing are controlled by the input signals received from a fire control system connected to the gun by a cable. The Bofors Defence precision remote control system with transistorized amplifiers is used. In remote control the data from the fire control equipment is transmitted with one cable and with Type B there is also a cable for connecting the gun to the power supply unit. In local control, one person on the left side of the platform operates the gun. This joystick is used in combination with the close-range sight if a central fire control system is not being used, is out of order, or if the gun is operated as an independent unit.
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| Accessories |
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There are two close-range sights, model NIFE SRS 5, fitted on a sight bracket on the breech casing of the gun, one for the elevation layer and one for the traversing layer. Elevation and traverse are electro-hydraulic with a maximum elevation speed of 45º/s and a maximum traverse speed of 85º/s. There are manual controls for emergency use.
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| Specifications |
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Armament
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One L/70 40 mm caliber barrel
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Country users
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More than 50 countries in the world use the Bofors L/70 40 mm in several variants and configurations.
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Designer Country
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Sweden
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Accessories
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Sight with a central fire control system, and remote control with cable.
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Crew
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4 - 6
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Ammunition
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PFHE Mk2, HCHE, HE-T, APC-T, P-T.
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Weight
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5,500 to 5,700 kg
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Range of fire
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3 to 4 km
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Traverse - elevation
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Traverse: 360°
Elevation: +90°/-4°
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Dimensions
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Length, 7.29 m; Width, 2.22 m; Height, 2.35 m
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