Sweden and France adopt BONUS 155mm Anti-tank Round - PGM

[Kirkhill]

If we are getting rid of the M109s are these arguments for buying new 155s instead of sticking our 105s on the back of trucks?  Or should we be buying light 155s or truck-mounted 155s in addition to our 105s?


http://www.defense-aerospace.com/cgi-bin/client/modele.pl?session=dae.4308111.1089903978.QPadasOa9dUAAESlMZk&modele=jdc_34

(Source: Bofors Defence; issued Feb. 9, 2005)
 
 
In a test earlier this month, the Swedish Artillery fired four 155mm artillery shells against seven gas heated objects. 

Seven of eight possible sub-munitions hit the target. The shell also demonstrated fully accurate flight despite experiencing very strong winds conditions. 

This result (more than 1, 7 target hit per shell) confirms result from last Acceptance Test firing, conducted in France in December 2004. 

During this test, seven shells were fired against electrical heated objects. Twelve of 14 possible submunitions hit the target. 

"The test's success marks a key milestone for fielding the Bonus with the Swedish and the French Armyâ ?, said Borje Nyquist, the Bofors Defence Product Director. 

The Bonus system was developed by Bofors and GIAT Industries, and is now in series production in both Sweden and France under multi-year production contracts. 

Bonus brings to cannon artillery a precise, cost-effective method for destroying enemy armored and hard targets. 

It consists of a 155-mm spin-stabilized projectile that enhances cannon artillery precision by dispensing - during flight - two Sensor Fuzed Munitions that can attack and destroy tanks and other armored combat vehicles. 

The system is the only cannon-fired precision munition currently in full rate production. 

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This following description is from the Bofors Defence site.

BONUS Sensor-fuzed Artillery Shell

In these times of enhanced mobility and armour protection, striking from longer ranges and from above is the most efficient and cost-effective way of destroying MBTs, APCs and SP guns.

BONUS, a Bofors Defence/Giat Industries joint development, is a spin-stabilized artillery shell containing two sensor-fuzed, top-attack sub-munitions with explosively formed penetrator (EFP) warheads.

After expulsion, and at a preset altitude, each of the submunitions helically searches a target area exceeding 30 000 m2.

Immediately their sensor systems with built-in logic detect and evaluate the target the EFP warheads strike down through the target's roof.

In the near future it will also be possible to apply the BONUS technology to other systems, including wide area mines and dispenser weapons

Copyright © 2003 Bofors Defence

http://www.boforsdefence.com/eng/products/int3_bonus.htm




These two links refer to the Excalibur 155mm GPS guided system being developed by Bofors is conjunction with the US

http://www.boforsdefence.com/eng/press/releases/041111-excalibur.asp

http://www.boforsdefence.com/eng/products/int3_tcm.htm

 

[a_majoor]

It certainly is an argument for buying advanced ammunition natures. This is another example of how the traditional braches and corps are blending, since BONUS ammunition replicates the sort of performance a 120mm STRIX mortar shell is capable of (over a longer range, of course).

So does that mean an Infantry Battalion issued with a mortar platoon packing STRIX is still purely Infantry (given the range and capabilities of STRX)? If they replace TOW with HELLFIRE or BRIMESTONE missiles, the DF capabilities will be highly advanced, giving the Infantry Battalion many of the attributes of Armour as well. (I am speaking of a traditional Mech Infantry Bn from the 1980-1993 era).

Give the Armoured Recce or proposed Cavalry access to this sort of 155mm firepower with advanced fire control training and the combat team expands over a vastly increased area. This is pushing against many of the "combined arms" tipe ideas on various threads.

 

[Kirkhill]

This is heading out of bounds for an artillery thread but your point about the combined arms discussion prompted this thought:

The real discussion about the distribution of capabilities is TRUST.  Does everybody TRUST that the other guy will be there to support him when he is in the crap.

If the Force were properly integrated and adequate support with clearly defined priorities were available then I don't think it would matter what the cap badge or the colour of the beret or even whether the uniform were powder blue.

That comes as much from constant training as it does from collocation and time down at the curling rink.

 

[MrGnr27]

For my money, an M198 towed howitzer, with the latest version of the CLASS sight, is the way to go. Day/night all weather capability. Direct fire...Hoooaaa ! It can fit in a Herc and can be towed by just about anything.

Don't like the weight? Let's go with the light weight 155 that is just rolling off the US assembly lines.Plus, with 155, not only do you have the conventional,as well as, extended range, you have a myriad of really high-tech munitions to choose from. Besides, you can only do so much with a 105 projectile.

It comes down to this: if I see Canadian Gunners rolling out to the ranges in MLVWs, with half a C3 howitzer gun-taped to the flatbed, I'm going to go home and throw myself on my bayonet !!

( Just Friday night musings ! )

Ubique

 

[Kirkhill]

Precision strikes from a gun at 40 Nautical Miles (~ 74 km) -  This article isn't clear on whether they were using a 5" Naval Gun or a 155mm.  Either way impressive.


http://www.defense-aerospace.com/cgi-bin/client/modele.pl?session=dae.4308111.1089903978.QPadasOa9dUAAESlMZk&modele=jdc_34

Raytheon's ERGM Guides into Success
 
 
(Source: Raytheon Company; issued Feb. 17, 2005)
 
 
TUCSON, Ariz. --- Raytheon Company successfully fired two tactical ERGM (Extended Range Guided Munition) rounds at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., Feb. 16. 

Both rounds exited the gun after transferring through a severe gun environment; additionally the tails erected and the rocket motor ignited. Moreover, both rounds achieved stable flight, acquired and tracked GPS satellites, developed in-flight navigational solutions, and guided to the target area more than 40 nautical miles away. The first round flew into the target arena and detonated the warhead. 

"Meeting today's objectives with tactically configured rounds validate our technical advancements in the component structure and set the stage for the land based test flight series to begin," says David Martin, Raytheon Projectiles product line vice president. "With the performance we saw today, we've completed the final engineering flight test, gained valuable total system performance data, and demonstrated a revolutionary capability that will fill the gap in naval surface fires as soon as possible with one of the first precision guided munitions to be fired from a gun." 

Raytheon Missile Systems is the leading developer of guided projectiles with Excalibur (155mm) and ERGM (5 inch) that will provide the precision U.S. forces need on the battlefield as soon as possible. This family of precision- guided munitions delivers rounds with great accuracy and avoids high incidents of collateral damage while destroying an enemy in the complex urban or mountainous environment. Excalibur and ERGM leverage many common components and partner with suppliers to produce two low cost and reliable weapon systems that meet or exceed all customer-defined requirements. 

Raytheon Company, with 2004 sales of $20.2 billion, is an industry leader in defense and government electronics, space, information technology, technical services, and business and special mission aircraft. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 80,000 people worldwide. 

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