Sweden orders Bofors 155mm BONUS munitions
BAE Systems has been contracted by the Swedish Defence and Material Administration to deliver 254 additional rounds of Bofors 155mm BONUS ammunition to the Swedish Army, the company announced on 2 November.
The latest version of BONUS is developed and produced in cooperation by BAE Systems in Sweden and Nexter in France.
The Swedish Army uses BONUS for its Archer artillery guns. The munition is capable of combating heavily armoured vehicles within 35kms. When launched from any 155mm artillery system, the BONUS carrier shell separates to deploy two sensor-fused munitions that search for targets within a given footprint, up to 32,000sqm. Each of the two expelled munitions seeks and neutralises its own target.
Lena Gillström, managing director for BAE Systems’ Weapon Systems business in Sweden, said: ‘Because each BONUS shell carries two smart munitions, its mission success per round is far greater than with traditional ammunition, providing the Swedish Army with clear advantages.
‘This order is part of a growing interest in BONUS around the globe and indicative of the system’s reliability and success factor.’
Production will take place at BAE Systems’ facility in Karlskoga, Sweden, with significant component deliveries from Nexter. Delivery is scheduled to take place in 2019.
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