{{Short description|Swedish-French 155 mm artillery round}} {{Infobox weapon | name = 155 mm BONUS | image = BONUS 155 mm.jpg | image_size = 300 | alt = | caption = BONUS 155 mm construction | type = Smart artillery round<br>Sensor-fuzed submunition | origin = Sweden / France <!-- Type selection --> | is_ranged = y | is_bladed = | is_explosive = y | is_artillery = | is_vehicle = | is_missile = | is_UK = <!-- Service history --> | service = 2000–present | used_by = See operators | wars = <!-- Production history --> | designer = Bofors AB<br>Nexter Systems | design_date = 1985–1997 | manufacturer = BAE Systems Platforms & Services<br>Nexter Systems | unit_cost = | production_date = 1998–present | number = | variants = <!-- General specifications --> | spec_label = | mass = {{cvt|44.6|kg|lb}} unfused | length = {{cvt|898|mm|in}} unfused | width = | height = | diameter = {{cvt|155|mm|in}} <!-- Ranged weapon specifications --> | velocity = {{cvt|830|m/sec|ft/sec|0}} from 39-caliber barrels | range = | max_range = {{ubl|{{cvt|27|km|mi|0}} from 39-caliber barrels|{{cvt|35|km|mi}} from 52-caliber barrels}} <!-- Explosive specifications --> | filling = 2 x autonomous anti-armour and anti-artillery submunitions | filling_weight = | detonation = | yield = <!-- For all --> | ref = Janes<ref name=Janes-M864>{{Citation |author=Janes |url=https://customer.janes.com/Janes/Display/JAH_0501-JAH_ |title=155 mm BONUS sensor-fuzed munition |date=2 February 2022 |website=Janes Land Warfare Weapons: Ammunition |publisher=Jane's Group UK Limited. |publication-place=Coulsdon, Surrey |url-access=subscription |access-date=6 August 2023}}</ref> }} The '''BONUS''' (''Bofors Nutating Shell'')<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Frost |first1=Roger |last2=Hewish |first2=Mark |date=1986 |title=Defence 86 Show Report |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_janes-international-defense-review-idr_1986_19_4 |journal=International Defense Review |volume=19 |issue=4 |pages=495 |via=Internet Archive}}</ref> or '''ACED''' (''Anti-Char à Effet Dirigé'')<ref>{{cite web |title=2001 Finance Bill: Land Forces |url=https://www.senat.fr/rap/a00-095-6/a00-095-612.html |date=23 November 2000}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=French Senate Report: French defense and cluster munitions |url=https://www.senat.fr/rap/r06-118/r06-1182.html |date=13 December 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=French Parliament: Information report by the National Defense and Armed Forces Committee on the ammunition industry |url=https://www2.assemblee-nationale.fr/documents/notice/14/rap-info/i3361/(index)/rapports-information/(archives)/index-information-comper |date=16 December 2015}}</ref> is a 155 mm guided artillery cluster round co-developed and manufactured by Bofors of Sweden and Nexter of France. It was designed to fulfill a long range, indirect fire, top attack requirement against armoured fighting vehicles.
The BONUS base bleed carrier shell contains two submunitions, which descend over the battlefield on winglets and attack targets with explosively formed penetrator warheads.
==Background==
The programme was launched in early 1985 as a project study for the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration, with development completion initially expected by 1989 and production by 1990.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Frost |first1=Roger |last2=Hewish |first2=Mark |date=1986 |title=Defence 86 Show Report |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_janes-international-defense-review-idr_1986_19_4 |journal=International Defence Review |volume=19 |issue=4 |pages=495 |via=Internet Archive}}</ref> In 1990, however, development completion was said to have slipped to 1992, the programme suffering delays.<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Sensor-fuzed anti-tank shell |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_janes-international-defense-review-idr_1990_23_5 |journal=International Defense Review |year=1990 |volume=25 |issue=5 |pages=580 |via=Internet Archive}}</ref> In June 1992, a military cooperation protocol was signed between Sweden and France. This partnership took concrete form on March 7, 1993 in Stockholm, with the conclusion of a special agreement on the development and production of an "intelligent" munition: the BONUS OBG artillery shell. The French Defense Minister, Pierre Joxe, stated the agreement would "undoubtedly make it possible to combine Swedish and French technologies, which are very advanced in this field". His Swedish counterpart, Anders Björck, meanwhile, emphasized the "historic" nature of this cooperation with France, "which is undoubtedly the most technologically advanced of Sweden's possible partners".<ref name="lemonde.fr">{{cite news |title=Avec le programme de munition " intelligente " Bonus La France et la Suède entament un processus de coopération militaire à long terme |newspaper=Le Monde.fr |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/1993/03/09/avec-le-programme-de-munition-intelligente-bonus-la-france-et-la-suede-entament-un-processus-de-cooperation-militaire-a-long-terme_3916316_1819218.html |date=9 March 1993}}</ref>
The BONUS was to be a smart anti-tank weapon with a range of over {{convert|25|km|abbr=on}}, which releases two submunitions at an altitude of {{convert|1,000|m|abbr=on}} above the theater of operations, with terminal and precise target guidance.<ref name="lemonde.fr"/> First delivery was scheduled for 1995 at the time of the cooperation agreement<ref name="lemonde.fr"/> but ultimately, the BONUS only entered production 5 years later in 1998 and then, French and Swedish service in 2000.<ref>{{cite web |title=2001 Finance Bill: Land Forces |url=https://www.senat.fr/rap/a00-095-6/a00-095-612.html |date=23 November 2000}}</ref>
==Design== center|Schematic of the 155 BONUS round 155 BONUS is a 155 mm NATO artillery round that consists of a {{convert|47|kg|adj=on}} heavy artillery projectile containing two autonomous, sensor-fused, fire-and-forget submunitions.
After the submunition is released it opens two winglets. While descending, the submunition rotates, scanning the area below with multi-frequency infrared sensors and LiDAR<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baesystems.com/en-media/uploadFile/20220228153416/1434555555732.pdf |title=155mm BONUS Anti-Armor, Top Attack Artillery|website=Baesystems.com|access-date=17 July 2022}}</ref> that compares the detected vehicles with a programmable target database. The submunitions each contain a high-penetration EFP warhead for use against even heavy armoured fighting vehicles like main battle tanks.
When fired from a 52-caliber barrel, a BONUS shell can travel up to {{cvt|35|km|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Roque|first=Ashley|date=19 October 2020|title=BAE Systems proposes Archer for US Army's towed howitzer replacement competition|url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/bae-systems-proposes-archer-for-us-armys-towed-howitzer-replacement-competition|access-date=25 December 2020|website=Jane's Information Group|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210327231701/https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/bae-systems-proposes-archer-for-us-armys-towed-howitzer-replacement-competition|archive-date=27 March 2021|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[https://www.defensenews.com/land/2020/12/17/us-army-mobile-howitzer-shoot-off-participants-emerge/ US Army mobile howitzer shoot-off participants emerge]. ''Defense News''. 17 December 2020.</ref>
==Operation== 700px|center1: After setting range and target profile(s), the BONUS round is fired from a standard NATO 155mm artillery tube.
2: The round flies on a ballistic arc, with a range of up to 35 kilometres (21.7 mi).
3: Mid-flight, a time fuze ignites an ejection charge in the nose that pushes the submunitions out of the base of the projectile.
4: The submunitions deploy winglets, and independently corkscrew down over the subject area at 900 rpm, scanning for targets.
5: Once a submunition detects a target vehicle beneath it, it detonates its explosive payload, creating an explosively formed projectile which strikes the target vehicle's weak top armour. The high-velocity impactor penetrates the hull and kills or wounds the crew.
==Operational history==
The BONUS shell was first used in operations on December 3, 2018 by the French ''Wagram'' artillery detachment in Iraq, as part of French operations against the Islamic State.<ref>{{cite web |title=Artillerie : Le français Nexter va livrer des obus BONUS à l'armée finlandaise pour 35 millions d'euros |url=https://www.opex360.com/2023/02/26/artillerie-le-francais-nexter-va-livrer-des-obus-bonus-a-larmee-finlandaise-pour-35-millions-deuros/ |date=26 February 2023}}</ref><ref name="archives.defense.gouv.fr">{{cite web |title=CHAMMAL : Première mise en œuvre de l'obus BONUS en opération |url=https://archives.defense.gouv.fr/operations/monde/grand-levant/chammal/breves/chammal-premiere-mise-en-oeuvre-de-l-obus-bonus-en-operation.html |date=18 December 2018}}</ref> Four shells destroyed a convoy of eight Islamic State vehicles.<ref>{{cite web |title=Irak : Les artilleurs français ont détruit une colonne de véhicules de l'État islamique avec des obus « BONUS » |url=https://www.opex360.com/2018/12/07/irak-les-artilleurs-francais-ont-detruit-une-colonne-de-vehicules-de-letat-islamique-avec-des-obus-bonus/ |date=7 December 2018}}</ref><ref name="archives.defense.gouv.fr"/>
In the context of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, BONUS rounds were supplied by France (and potentially Sweden and Norway) to the latter. Although various analysts and web users speculated a BONUS shell had struck a Russian Pantsir-S1 system on July 5, 2022, it turned out to be a SMArt 155 strike.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SMArt 155 in Action: Use of High-Precision Munitions to Eliminate russians is Geting Large-Scale (Video) {{!}} Defense Express |url=https://en.defence-ua.com/weapon_and_tech/smart_155_in_action_use_of_high_precision_munitions_to_eliminate_russians_is_geting_large_scale_video-3546.html |access-date=2022-10-05 |website=en.defence-ua.com |language=en}}</ref> However, in January 2023, French-produced BONUS shells were visually confirmed to be in Ukrainian service.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ukraine unleashes 'Bonus' weapon that can destroy two tanks in a single shot |newspaper=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/01/05/ukraine-unleashes-bonus-weapon-can-destroy-two-tanks-single/ |date=5 January 2023 |last1=Barnes |first1=Joe }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Proven: Ukraine uses 155mm BONUS anti-tank shells with spaceship tech |url=https://bulgarianmilitary.com/2023/01/04/proven-ukraine-uses-155mm-bonus-anti-tank-shells-with-spaceship-tech/ |access-date=2022-10-05 |website=bulgarianmilitary.com |author=Boyko Nikolov| date=4 January 2023 |language=en}}</ref> In July 2024 a BONUS shell was used to destroy a Russian T-90M main battle tank near the village of Robotyne.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ukrainian troops destroyed the T-90M with a BONUS round |url=https://mil.in.ua/en/news/ukrainian-troops-destroyed-the-t-90m-with-a-bonus-round/ |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=Militarnyi |language=en-US}}</ref> Sometime in 2024-2025, five BONUS shells were used against a platoon of three Russian tanks with all three tanks knocked out in two minutes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Watling |first=Jack |last2=Reynolds |first2=Nick |date=February 15, 2025 |title=Tactical Developments During the Third Year of the Russo–Ukrainian War |url=https://rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/special-resources/tactical-developments-during-third-year-russo-ukrainian-war |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=Royal United Services Institute |page=11 |language=en}}</ref>
==Competing systems== The BONUS is similar to the German SMArt 155 system; the SMArt 155 descends on a parachute rather than a system of winglets, and uses a millimeter radar as altimeter instead of LIDAR.
The United States developed the similar M898 SADARM system (which also descended on a ballute to attack the top surfaces of armoured vehicles), but this was discontinued in favor of the GPS guided M982 Excalibur round. US artillery units also largely deploys the M712 Copperhead laser-guided round for the anti-tank role.
== Qualified systems == List of Howitzers:
* BAE Archer<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 September 2023 |title=Sweden awards BAE Systems $500 million contract for additional 48 ARCHER artillery systems |url=https://www.baesystems.com/en/article/sweden-awards-bae-systems-contract-for-additional-48-archer-artillery-systems |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=www.baesystems.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Archer - The New Artillery Gun System for Today and Tomorrow |url=https://www.bmlv.gv.at/truppendienst/ausgaben/artikel.php?id=1138}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=BONUS-ammunition beställd till Archer |url=https://www.fmv.se/aktuellt--press/aktuella-handelser/bonus-ammunition-bestalld-till-archer/ |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=www.fmv.se |language=sv}}</ref> * K9 Thunder ** 155 PSH K9 FIN (Finnish Army) ** VIDAR (Norwegian Army)<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Norwegian VIDAR – (Versatile InDirect ARtillery system) – VOAWEB |url=https://voaweb.nl/the-norwegian-vidar-versatile-indirect-artillery-system/ |access-date=2025-05-14 |language=nl-NL}}</ref> * M109 A6 / A7 (US Army)<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Joint Program Executive Office for Armaments & Ammunition > Project Offices > PM CAS > Organizations > Precision Attack Cannon Munitions > Products > BONUS Mk2 155mm Projectile |url=https://jpeoaa.army.mil/Project-Offices/PM-CAS/Organizations/Precision-Attack-Cannon-Munitions/Products/BONUS-Mk2-155mm-Projectile/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250215171037/https://jpeoaa.army.mil/Project-Offices/PM-CAS/Organizations/Precision-Attack-Cannon-Munitions/Products/BONUS-Mk2-155mm-Projectile/ |archive-date=2025-02-15 |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=jpeoaa.army.mil |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=3 March 2020 |title=U.S. Army purchases additional 155mm BONUS munitions |url=https://www.baesystems.com/en/article/u-s--army-purchases-additional-155mm-bonus-munitions}}</ref> * M777 (US Army)<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> * Nexter Caesar (Mk1 and to be qualified with the Mk2)<ref>{{Cite web |title=KNDS Group |url=https://knds.com/en/press-releases/dsa-2022-nexter-to-display-caesar-6x6-placing-combat-superiority-technology-and-industry-cooperation-at-the-forefront |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=KNDS Group |language=en}}</ref> ** Caesar Mk 1 on Sherpa 5 chassis (French Army and Ukrainian Army) ** Caesar Mk 1 on Unimog U2450L chassis (Saudi Arabia) ** Caesar Mk 2 on {{ill|Arquus|lt=Armis|fr|Armis}} chassis (French Army) * 155 GH 52 APU<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-11-17 |title=The first BONUS shootings in Finland |url=https://maavoimat.fi/-/ensimmaiset-bonus-ammunnat-suomessa}}</ref>
==Operators==
; {{flag|Finland}} : The Finnish Army has operated the Bonus shell since 2016.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=17 November 2016 |title=First BONUS firing in Finland |url=https://maavoimat.fi/en/-/ensimmaiset-bonus-ammunnat-suomessa}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Finnish defence forces |url=http://www.puolustusvoimat.fi/wcm/0bcd75004318322c8a6dca796152065b/155mmbonus_materiaali.pdf?MOD%3DAJPERES |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150419222745/http://www.puolustusvoimat.fi/wcm/0bcd75004318322c8a6dca796152065b/155mmbonus_materiaali.pdf?MOD=AJPERES |archivedate=2015-04-19 |accessdate=2015-04-19}}</ref> : Orders: :* 2014: first order of the Bonus Mk II<ref name=":3" /> :* 2023: order of the Bonus Mk II, worth around €35 million<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=ESD |date=2023-02-27 |title=Finland Orders BONUS Mk II Artillery Rounds |url=https://euro-sd.com/2023/02/news/29850/finland-orders-bonus-mk-ii-artillery-rounds/#:~:text=The%20Finnish%20Defence%20Forces%20(FDF,website%20on%2024%20February%202023. |access-date=2025-05-14 |language=en-US}}</ref> ; {{flag|France}} : The French Army has operated the Bonus shell since 2000.<ref name="auto">{{cite web |title=Fritt Militärt Forum Nr 3 2000 |url=http://www.forsvarsframjandet.org/fmf-00-3/Over%2015%20lander%20foljde%20demoskjutning%20av%20BONUS.html |url-status=usurped |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304062118/http://www.forsvarsframjandet.org/fmf-00-3/Over%2015%20lander%20foljde%20demoskjutning%20av%20BONUS.html |archivedate=2016-03-04 |accessdate=2015-03-01}}</ref><ref name=":4" /> ; {{flag|Norway}} : The Norwegian Army is operating the Bonus shell.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bofors 155mm BONUS Munition |url=https://www.baesystems.com/en/product/155-bonus |website=Baesystems.com}}</ref> ; {{flag|Saudi Arabia}} : The Saudi Arabian National Guard has operated the Bonus shell since 2012. : 1,000 shells ordered in 2011. ; {{flag|Sweden}} : The Swedish Army has operated the Bonus shell since 2000.<ref name="auto" /><ref name=":4" /> : Orders: :* November 2017, 254 ordered<ref>{{Cite web |last=Srivari |date=2017-11-06 |title=BAE Systems to deliver Bofors 155mm BONUS to Swedish Army |url=https://www.army-technology.com/news/bae-systems-deliver-bofors-155mm-bonus-swedish-army/ |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=Army Technology |language=en-US}}</ref> :* May 2025, order worth SEK600 million.<ref name=":0" /> ; {{flag|Ukraine}} : The Ukrainian Ground Forces has operated the Bonus shell since 2022. ; {{flag|United States}} : The US Army has operated the Bonus shell since 2020.<ref>{{cite web |date=9 October 2018 |title=U.S. Army to procure BAE Systems' 155mm BONUS precision-guided munitions |url=https://www.baesystems.com/en/article/us-army-to-procure-bae-systems-155mm-bonus-precision-guided-munitions |access-date=7 November 2024 |website=BAE Systems}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=3 March 2020 |title=U.S. Army purchases additional 155mm BONUS munitions |url=https://www.baesystems.com/en/article/u-s--army-purchases-additional-155mm-bonus-munitions |access-date=7 November 2024 |website=BAE Systems}}</ref> : Orders: :* October 2018<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 October 2018 |title=U.S. Army to procure BAE Systems' 155mm BONUS precision-guided munitions |url=https://www.baesystems.com/en/article/us-army-to-procure-bae-systems-155mm-bonus-precision-guided-munitions}}</ref> :* March 2020<ref name=":2" />
==See also== * {{lwc|Krasnopol (weapon system)|Krasnopol}} * {{lwc|Bofors STRIX}} * {{lwc|XM395 Precision Guided Mortar Munition}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgNTO-4ukkk Bofors 155 BONUS - Video] * [http://www.baesystems.com/product/BAES_051844/155-bonus BAE systems] * [https://www.defencetalk.com/pictures/army/p20951-bonus-artillery-launched-precision-guided-shellswedish-army.html Defencetalk.com showing the carrier casing]
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:155 BONUS}} Category:155 mm artillery shells Category:Anti-tank rounds Category:Bofors Category:Cluster munitions Category:Fire-and-forget weapons Category:Cannon-launched guided projectiles Category:Military equipment of NATO Category:Artillery of France