Image source: topwar.ru
Archer self-propelled guns
In July, Sweden, continuing to replenish its depleted arsenals due to the support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, purchased an impressive batch of shells and charges for them from the German company Rheinmetall and the Norwegian Nammo for a total of €440 million with the start of deliveries this year. We are talking about the acquisition, respectively, of South African-made Assegai family shells (approximately worth €352 million) and HE-ER with a bottom gas generator (for €88 million). However, the size of the purchased batches is not reported.
- stated in the military department.
The Swedish Army currently operates 26 Archer howitzers on the chassis of a Volvo A30E 6x6 articulated dump truck. In the future, 48 more vehicles are planned to be delivered, but they will use the German RMMV HX 8x8 truck as a base.
Image source: topwar.ru
Animation of a submunition as part of a BONUS projectile
Earlier, Stockholm purchased an unnamed number of high-precision artillery shells with a BONUS bottom gas generator for its self-propelled guns from BAE Systems Bofors for $62 million. The deliveries will be carried out over several years and are designed to strengthen the anti-tank potential of the Archer howitzers.:
- noted by the manufacturer.
Image Source: topwar.ru
BONUS design
In BONUS, after passing a set distance, a fuse is triggered, releasing two striking elements in the form of small cylinders that descend to the ground. The rate of descent is limited by the retractable tail, which drives the submunitions into rotation. Each of them is equipped with an IR sensor and lidar. They detect and identify the target, after which the warhead is triggered.
When firing a howitzer with a barrel length of L/39 (approximately 6 m), for example, the M109A7, the firing range is 27 km. This distance increases to 35 km when firing from a gun with a barrel length of L/52 (about 8 m), for example, CAESAR, PzH 2000, Krab, K9.
