Bangladesh Ordnance Factories
বাংলাদেশ সমরাস্ত্র কারখানা
FoundedApril 6, 1970 (1970-04-06)
TypeState-owned enterprise
Location
Area served
Bangladesh
ProductsFirearms, Artillery, Fuses, Detonators, Explosives.
OwnerBangladesh Army
Commandant
Major General Md Maksudul Haque
Key people
Websitewww.bof.gov.bd

Bangladesh Ordnance Factories (BOF) is the largest industrial supplier of the Bangladesh Army. Situated in Gazipur, it produces arms, ammunition, and equipment for the Bangladesh Armed Forces.[1]

History

The establishment of a rifle factory and small-arms ammunition plant for Pakistan Army began in 1968 with the technical and financial assistance of the People's Republic of China.[2][3] The facility was inaugurated on 6 April 1970. Although it suffered considerable damage during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, its capabilities have been restored and expanded since.[2]

In 1982-1983 BMR (Balancing, Modernization, Replacement) works started which was completed in 1987. After the BMR the yearly production target of the factory was determined to be 2500 rifles and 15 million ammunition per annum. Project on establishment of ‘Automatic Assault Rifle BD-08’ factory was under taken in 2004-2005 and it was successfully implemented in the year 2008.[2]

In June 2021, a turnkey 105 mm and 155 mm artillery sell production line establishment agreement was signed between Bangladesh and Turkish company REPKON. With the modern Free Flowforming (REPKON patented) technology and computerized machinery from REPKON, BOF will produce high-quality 105 mm and 155 mm artillery shells.[4][5] According to Uğur Cem Gürpınar, REPKON business development and corporate communications officer, "Bangladesh, like many friendly and allied countries, preferred REPKON because of its technology that is ahead of its competitors in the world".[4] Bangladesh Army is currently using western standard 105 mm and 155 mm artilleries as well as Chinese 122 mm and 130 mm artilleries..

Technology

Initially BOF was set up with technologies machines, equipment and support facilities from China, but gradually technology transfers from Austria, Australia, Belgium, Germany, Turkey, China & Italy were added. BOF now boasts a mix of conventional and state of the art computerized controlled processes/systems for manufacturing.


Factories

Bangladesh Ordnance Factories currently operates the following factories.[6]

  1. Small arms manufacturing factory
  2. Small arms ammunition factory
  3. Ball, tracer, blank and API ammunition for rifle, SMG, LMG and HMG manufacturing factory
  4. Rifles manufacturing factory
  5. Machine gun manufacturing factory
  6. Grenade manufacturing factory
  7. Artillery ammunition factory
  8. Tools manufacturing plant

Products

The products of Bangladesh Ordnance Factory are different types of ammunition, artillery shells and infantry weapons. BOF is planning to produce a variety of artillery weapons, military hardware, precision weapons as well as developing and producing indigenous ordnance weapons and equipment.[7][8]

Infantry weapons

Assault rifles

Semi-Automatic carbine

Machine guns

Grenades

Mortars

  • Mortar gun: At least one model under production but official details by BOF is not available.[1] BOF tested their prototype 60 mm and 82 mm mortar guns before 2016.[15]

Ammunition

Small arms

Artillery shells

Mortar bombs

  • Mortar bombs: At least one model under production including fuze manufacturing but official details by BOF is not available.[1] BOF tested their prototype 60 mm and 82 mm mortar bombs before 2016.[15]

Military explosives

Projects

Future projects

  1. Opening production line for Anti Tank Guided Weapon (ATGM).[17]
  2. Opening production line for MANPADS.[17]
  3. Opening more modern production line for 105 mm and new production line for 155 mm artillery shells with Free Flowforming technology and computerized machinery from Turkish company REPKON.[4][5]
  4. Opening fuze manufacturing production line for 105 mm, 122 mm, 130 mm and 155 mm artillery shells.[18]
  5. Opening fuze manufacturing production line for 60 mm and 82 mm mortar bombs.[18]
  6. Opening 40 mm grenade production line for automatic grenade launcher.[18] BOF planned to produce 100000 HE (High Explosive), 25000 HEDP (High Explosive Dual Purpose) and 75000 training 40 mm grenade cartridges per year.[18] Maximum range of these cartridges will be 2200 meters and effective range will be 1500 meters.[18]
  7. Establishment of different types of computer numerical control (CNC) machining center.[18]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Bangladesh Ordnance Factories". Bangladesh Ordnance Factories. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 "History". Bangladesh Ordnance Factories. 29 September 2019.
  3. ↑ "The South Asian Military Handbook" (PDF). Central Intelligence Agency. August 1973. p. IV-7. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 22, 2017. The only ordnance facility in Bangladesh is a rifle factory and small-arms ammunition plant near Dacca, built in the late 1960s with Chinese assistance. The facility was opened in 1970 and was operated by the Pakistani Army.
  4. 1 2 3 "Bangladeş'in top mermilerinde Türk imzası" (in Turkish). Anadolu Agency. 24 June 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  5. 1 2 "Leading Edge Metal Forming Methods for Modern Defense Industries". REPKON. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  6. ↑ "B.O.F. - About Us". Archived from the original on 2012-07-23. Retrieved 2010-10-24.
  7. ↑ "Capabilities". bof.gov.bd. Archived from the original on 2019-05-06. Retrieved 2019-08-30.
  8. 1 2 "Magazine Production Line" (PDF). Bangladesh Ordinance Factories. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "Small Arms Factory". Bangladesh Ordnance Factories. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  10. ↑ "Tender Notice P-4 SEC" (PDF). dgdp. 8 April 2019. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  11. ↑ Miller, David (2001). The Illustrated Directory of 20th Century Guns. Salamander Books Ltd. ISBN 1-84065-245-4.
  12. ↑ "Invitation for Expression of Interest" (PDF). Bangladesh Ordnance Factories. 2019. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  13. 1 2 "High Calibre Ammunition Factory". Bangladesh Ordnance Factories. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  14. ↑ "Specification of Percussion Cap & Detonator Cup For HE Fuze of Grenade Hand Arges-84 BD" (PDF). Bangladesh Ordnance Factories. 1 October 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  15. 1 2 সেনাবাহিনী জনগণের আস্থা অর্জন করেছে : প্রধানমন্ত্রী [The Army Has Won the Trust of the People: PM]. Daily Inqilab (in Bengali). 29 May 2015. Archived from the original on 29 May 2015.
  16. ↑ "Capabilities". Bangladesh Ordnance Factories. Archived from the original on 6 May 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  17. 1 2 "Bangladesh stepping up defense ties with Turkey". Anadolu Agency. 21 June 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Press Tender". Bangladesh Ordnance Factory. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
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