Friday, November 21, 2008

BONUS

IOC: 2002
Total Production: 9,000
Total Program's Cost: USD$360 million

BONUS Mk II

IOC: 2005
Unitary Cost: USD$40,000

Origin
France
Sweden

Contractor/s
NEXTER
United Defense

Family Members
BONUS

Description: BONUS is a 155mm projectile designed to counter stationary or moving armored vehicles with pinpoint accuracy and reduced collateral damage. The BONUS is being produced by Bofors Defence and GIAT Industries. The BONUS shell is fully compatible with any 155mm diameter howitzer/gun. According to current plans, production of BONUS baseline variant will be complete in 2007.

The BONUS artillery shell contains 2 top-attack sensor-fuzed munitions with explosively formed penetrator warheads. Once fired, the BONUS releases its 2 IR-guided munitions which start to search for potential targets at 175 meters of altitude within an area of 32,000 square meters while they are going down at 45 m/s. When the BONUS munitions confirms a potential target, it strikes downward with its explosively formed penetrator warhead to hit the target's roof where the armor is weakest.

Each BONUS munition weighs 6,5 kg, has a diameter of 138mm, and is able to pierce out to 100mm of armor. They rotate 15 times per second searching for targets while descending. The BONUS guidance system combines an IR imaging system and a laser altimeter.

The BONUS fired from a 52 calibers gun has a maximum range of 35 km (27km for a 39 calibers gun). The French government has ordered 6,000 BONUS with an option for 1,000 additional units. The government of Sweden ordered 3,000 BONUS artillery shells. The French Armament Procurement Agency DGA and Swedish Defense Materiel Administration FMV are contracting activities carried out under the BONUS program.

The BONUS Mk II shell aim is to counter a new generation of armored vehicles with increasingly reduced infrared signatures. The new variant of BONUS artillery shell combines the existing infrared sensor with a laser detector (presumably a Laser Radar - LADAR but not confirmed yet) intended to analyze the shape of the objects/potential targets. The Mk II munition development was completed in June 2004. Series production are expected to begin in mid 2005 with first deliveries due during the same year.

In early 2005, United Defense was awarded a contract to provide Bonus Mk II ammunition provided in both tactical and test configurations to the US Army. The Army planned to evaluate and qualify the weapon on its existing 155mm cannon artillery platforms at Yuma Proving Ground near Yuma, Arizona, during 2005. This move might lead to the first export order for the Bonus 155mm precision ammunition.

Specifications
Dimensions: Diameter 155 mm, Length 898 mm

Weights: Max Weight 44.5 kg (98 lb)

Performance: Max Range 35,000 m (114,829 ft), Min Range 27,000 m (88,583 ft), Piercing in Armor 100 mm (3.94 in)

News
The US Army to Evaluate Bonus Projectile

Operators

see operators map | see family operators map

France

Sweden

Notes
(*) lead contractor
IOC: Initial Operating Capability
FOC: Full Operating Capability
CEP: Circular Error Probable
Comm: Commissioning Date
Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Nautic Miles (nm) Inch (in) Yard (yd) Foot (ft) Millimeter (mm)
Pound (lb) Kilogram (kg) kN (KiloNewton) Ton (t)
Meters per Second (mps) Kilometers per Hour (kph) Knot (kt) Miles per Hour (mph)
Liter (l) Galon (gl)
Year (yr) Minutes (min) Second (sec)
Shaft-Horse-Power (shp)

Last Updated: Saturday, October 25, 2008

Leave Feedback >>