OFB ready with UAE's order for Bofors-type guns

The Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) is ready with its first major export order of 155 mm shells used in Bofors-type artillery guns for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) army.

OFB chairman and director general of Ordnance Factories S C Bajpai said on Wednesday that the guns would be delivered by December.

"Earlier, there was no major thrust on OFB's export capabilities. But, that has changed and now with the Make in India initiative, we are looking forward to reorienting ourselves as a formidable player in the ordinance export market. The deal with the UAE is of about Rs 240 crore and around 40,000 shells are ready for delivery," Bajpai said.

"OFB has decided to focus on export orders from all Middle Eastern and African countries as well as Myanmar. We have earlier exported our products to Maldives, Sri Lanka and Indonesia. But, the supply contract with UAE is the first ever defence contract with that country," he said.

Officials in the OFB headquarters here told DH that the ordnance factories have made the 155mm extended bore full-range shells of the boat-tail version for the UAE.

The shells come in boat-tail and base-bleed versions, and OFB makes both versions.