Saab Bofors Test Centre - Multi-Purpose Military Testing Site

Bofors Test Center, located in the middle of Sweden, in Karlskoga, has assets including a fully functional proving ground. The overall length is 30km and the width is 5km. Together with the neighbouring training field of the Swedish Armed Forces, they hold control of an area larger than 200km².

The proving ground is privately owned and its area is restricted to the general public. This restricted status is permanently enforced for a distance of 18km downrange and may be extended to the entire area whenever needed. Ready access is also available to the Swedish Armed Forces firing range in Älvdalen, with an area of 440km².

The supporting facilities include a complete workshop for assembling testing or reference items, stores containing frequently used propellant and high explosives as well as shells and cartridge casings, which make it possible to supply the essentials for the testing of different components. There is also a mechanical workshop for overhauling barrels as well as complete guns.

ARMOURED VEHICLE, DEMINING AND OFF-ROAD TRACK TESTING AREAS

Due to the large size of the working area, Bofors Test Center has its own transport organisation that includes ADR license certification for the managed transport of dangerous goods. There is a road system on the proving ground that totals more than 200km. This road system includes a test track for armoured vehicles, a test area for demining purposes and off-road track, making various types of cross-country tests possible.

MULTI-PURPOSE STATIONARY TEST SITES

One day is never the same as another at the proving ground. There are five stationary test sites that can operate simultaneously and can handle a wide variety of tests, for example:

• R&D testing and LAT firing
• Testing of small calibre arms through 40mm and 57mm, 84mm Carl-Gustaf on up to 155mm
• Live firing of AA guns and missiles at towed targets and drones
• Demonstration of complete systems
• Static burning of rocket motors, including pressure measurement on rotating rockets
• Burning of luminous compositions
• Drop testing from aircraft

COMPLETE SYSTEM OR SINGLE-COMPONENT TESTING

Testing can be performed on either complete systems or on the component level. Propellants, complete charges, barrels and different parts of a missile system can all be tested on the component level.

The measurement department can freeze the fastest event using their transient recorders. Together with the many sensors and transducers they can provide you all the data that you want after a test. Various types of Doppler radar are used daily to record velocities in the bore, muzzle and trajectory. For the fastest events, flashed X-ray photo technique is used that gives exposure time of less than 50ns.

Many components are tested separately: warheads and missiles are tested against relevant targets or in arena set ups so that they can be tested at striking velocities achieved either by means of an air gun or by a rocket sledge on a 400m track. The flash X-ray photography can record essential data before and in the impact event.

AERODYNAMIC TESTING WIND TUNNEL

On site there is also a wind tunnel in which fins, rudders and radomes are subjected to aerodynamic stress. The tunnel is capable of speeds starting at 30m/s up to mach 3.6. High-velocity aerodynamic performance is studied using scale models. At lower velocities or on smaller test objects full-scale tests are possible.

BORE ACCELERATION RESISTANCE TESTING

The ability to test components' ability to withstand bore acceleration by firing, followed by soft recovery, is done in different ways:

• Vertical firing where the shell hits the ground on its base without exceeding the in-bore acceleration
• Fire shells with recovery parachutes
• Special impact zone with soft ground
• Fire towards lakes

To locate the object specially trained dogs can be used.

ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS LABORATORY

Most of the tests are carried out after exposing the products to simulated harsh environments in the environmental stress laboratory. It is a complete laboratory: most Mil-Spec demands can be carried out and tests can comply with MIL-STD 810.

INSENSITIVE MUNITION-STANDARD TESTING

One area in which Bofors Test Center is growing is the ability to test munitions according to Insensitive Munition (IM) standards. Growth is also evident within the field of life surveillance for munitions.