Soldiers of Ukraine's 121st Separate Territorial Defense Brigade recently shot down russian S8000 Banderol and Kh-59 cruise missiles. What makes these interceptions particularly noteworthy is the use of the venerable but battle-proven 40 mm Bofors L70 anti-aircraft guns.
According to the brigade's press service, the first interception was carried out by the Chaklun crew while defending the skies near Odesa. The following day, another cruise missile was destroyed by the Hunter crew near another city in southern Ukraine.
Read more: 76-Year-Old Bofors L70 Anti-Aircraft Guns Successfully Shoot Down Shahed Drones in Ukraine
Defense Express notes that these engagements once again demonstrate the enduring value of the Bofors L70, which has remained in service with armed forces around the world since the 1950s. The system itself was developed in the late 1940s, making it more than 76 years old today.
In May this year, we also reported on the use of the L70 by Ukraine's National Guard to intercept drones, including Iranian-designed Shahed attack UAVs. These latest engagements show that the gun remains effective against cruise missiles as well, including the relatively new S8000 Banderol, which, according to available information, has a range of up to 500 km and carries a 114.3 kg warhead.
Available photographs of the Bofors L70 guns operated by the 121st Separate Territorial Defense Brigade suggest that, aside from possible upgrades to their sights, they have not undergone major modernization. This indicates that target engagement is most likely performed manually rather than through an automated fire-control system.
It is worth recalling that Lithuania announced the transfer of Bofors L70 anti-aircraft guns to Ukraine as part of its military assistance package in early 2023. The Netherlands has also supplied these systems to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
The effectiveness demonstrated by these relatively simple, non-automated L70 variants suggests that modernized versions could deliver even stronger performance. This is particularly relevant because Sweden, with financial support from Denmark, has already ordered the Tridon Mk2 air-defense system from its domestic defense industry for both the Swedish Armed Forces and Ukraine.
The Tridon Mk2 combines an automated 40 mm Bofors gun mounted on a wheeled vehicle with programmable ammunition and modern fire-control equipment. The system also integrates both passive and active sensors, including the Saab Giraffe 1X radar.
Read more: Ukraine to Receive Swedish Tridon Mk2 Systems Designed to Counter Shahed Threats: Key Details
