| Friday, November 21, 2008 |
 |
BONUS
IOC: 2002
Total Production: 9,000
Total Program's Cost: USD$360 million
Unitary Cost: USD$40,000
Origin
France
Sweden
Contractor/s
NEXTER
United Defense
Applications
Caesar
FH 77BD L45
FH 77BW
GCT AUF2
Family Members
BONUS Mk II
|
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.
As of June 2004, more than 1,000 BONUS rounds have already been delivered to the Armed Forces of France and Sweden. Both armies are conducting extensive operational testing at locations in Sweden and France to validate the weapon.
In 2006 GIAT Industries was already working on a new variant of Bonus known as 155 BONUS IM fitted with non-sensitive explosive. BONUS IM was targeted at UK MoD requirements for IFPA (Indirect Fire Precision Attack).
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)
|
|
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 >>
|
|
Copyright © 2003 - 2008 deagel.com. All Rights Reserved.
France / 6,000 
Sweden / 3,000