Bofors

Bofors AB is a former Swedish arms manufacturer with a history in the iron and artillery industry spanning over 350 years. The company originated from the "Boofors" hammer mill, established as a royal state-owned enterprise in 1646 in Karlskoga, Sweden. The modern corporate structure was formed in 1873 with the creation of Aktiebolaget (AB) Bofors-Gullspång.

A pivotal figure in Bofors' history was Alfred Nobel, who acquired the company in 1894. Nobel was instrumental in transforming the iron and steel producer into a modern manufacturer of cannons and a participant in the chemical industry. Under his leadership, Bofors began to focus heavily on weapons manufacturing, opening its first cannon workshop in 1884. In 1919, the company's name was shortened to AB Bofors.

Over the decades, Bofors became renowned for its artillery pieces, most notably the Bofors 40 mm anti-aircraft gun, which was widely used during World War II by numerous nations. The company's product line expanded to include a variety of military systems for land, sea, and air combat. Today, after a series of acquisitions, the original Bofors is divided. In 2000, Saab AB acquired the Celsius Group, Bofors' parent company at the time. Subsequently, in 2000, the heavy weapons division was sold to United Defense Industries (UDI) of the United States, while Saab retained the missile division, now known as Saab Bofors Dynamics. In 2005, BAE Systems acquired UDI, and the heavy weapons segment now operates as BAE Systems Bofors, a business unit within BAE Systems AB.

Keywords: arms manufacturer, artillery systems, naval guns, anti-aircraft guns, BAE Systems Bofors, Saab Bofors Dynamics, Swedish defence industry, military technology, heavy weaponry, ammunition, cannon manufacturer, defence systems, Alfred Nobel, Karlskoga, military history, weapon systems, howitzer, remote weapon systems, combat vehicle turrets, intelligent ammunition