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According to a report by the military news site "Army Recognition", Sweden has recently decided to invest $62 million (approximately NT$1.83 billion) to make an additional purchase of BONUS anti-tank shells from BAE Systems. The purpose of this new procurement is to enhance the Swedish army's ground defense capabilities, especially in today’s complex security environment.

The Swedish Defence Material Administration (FMV) signed a contract with BAE Systems on the 13th of this month, marking the third acquisition of BONUS ammunition since 2017. The new shells are planned to be equipped with units of the Swedish army's Archer self-propelled howitzers to strengthen their anti-tank firepower.

The BONUS anti-tank shell was developed collaboratively by BAE Systems' Bofors and France's Nexter, and it is a guided shell fired from a 155 mm howitzer. Although its appearance is similar to conventional artillery shells, it contains two submunitions that can be deployed independently after reaching the target area.

The design of this shell incorporates advanced technology, allowing it to release its outer casing upon reaching the target area and deploy the two submunitions. These submunitions will unfold their deceleration wings during flight and adjust their trajectories while scanning for ground targets via sensors located at their bases. Once an enemy armored vehicle is detected, the submunitions will explode in mid-air, producing a metal jet that can penetrate the top armor of such vehicles, thereby providing artillery units with a basic level of anti-armored capability.

BAE Systems also stated that the BONUS shell uses a booster-assisted design, achieving a range of 35 kilometers when used with NATO-standard artillery. Additionally, the submunitions can scan targets over an area of 32,000 square meters, ensuring a combination of long-range and precise anti-tank capabilities. Its "fire-and-forget" feature allows self-propelled howitzers to quickly reposition after firing, meeting the operational requirements of the Archer system.

In addition to Sweden, the BONUS anti-tank shell has also been adopted by Finland, France, Norway, and the United States, indicating the weapon's potential and demand in the global defense market.