File image.
Kiev forces have reportedly received an unknown number of Swedish-made Bofors 40 mm L/60 anti-aircraft autocannons.
On May 11, a photo showing a Bofors 40 mm gun with a service member of Kiev forces in an unspecified part of Ukraine surfaced online.
Click to see full-size image. Via Twitter.
The Bofors gun, which was developed in the 1930s by the Swedish arms manufacturer AB Bofors, can fire 120 to 140 40 mm rounds per minute. The gun has a maximum firing range of 7,160 meters. It is typically operated by a crew of four.
While the Bofors gun offers great fire power, the lack of a modern fire control system makes it largely ineffective against advanced warplanes. Kiev forces will likely use the powerful gun as a direct fire weapon against ground targets.
Ukrainian sources said that the Bofros guns were supplied by Sweden. However, this is yet to be confirmed. Bofros guns were in service with many Western armies.
Sweden, who claims to be a neutral state, has supplied Kiev forces with loads of weapons, including thousands of anti-tank weapons, since the start of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine. However, it didn’t announce any delivers of Bofors guns.
Many Western states have been dumping their old weapon stockpiles into Ukraine on the hope of weakening the Russian military. So far, this policy has prolonged the war, hindered peace talks between Kiev and Moscow and worsened the humanitarian situation in Ukraine.
