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Bofors to test new version of howitzer

STOCKHOLM FEB. 12. The Swedish artillery manufacturer, Bofors Defence, said today that it would test a new version of its howitzer in a bid to secure a $1.1 billion contract from India.

"Unofficially, we have heard that the (Indian) Army was satisfied with the performance of our gun in last year's trials, but they wanted some more tests to be held in June," Christer Henebaeck, a Bofors Defence spokesman said.

Also participating in the field trials are South Africa's Denel Company and the Israeli weapons manufacturer, House of Soltam.

India bought 410 howitzers from the company — then called AB Bofors — in 1986. Allegations of corruption in the $1.4 billion sale led to the fall of Rajiv Gandhi's Government three years later.

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