Rheinmetall BOXER 8x8 armoured vehicle multirole platform for wide range of missions 2202131

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IDEX 2013
Tri-Service defence exhibition
17 - 21 February 2013
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
 
Rheinmetall BOXER Command Post at IDEX 2013
 
 
Friday, February 22, 2013, 05:47 AM
 
Rheinmetall BOXER 8x8 armoured vehicle multirole platform for wide range of missions.
Wheeled armoured vehicle families continue to play a vital role on the modern battlefield. They give the troops added mobility and offer protection against ballistic threats, mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). At its stand at IDEX 2013, Rheinmetall presents the German variant of the command post vehicle. As an added plus, interaction between the command post vehicle and dismounted soldiers wearing the Gladius future soldier system is demonstrated.
     
Wheeled armoured vehicle families continue to play a vital role on the modern battlefield. They give the troops added mobility and offer protection against ballistic threats, mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). At its stand at IDEX 2013, Rheinmetall presents the German variant of the command post vehicle. As an added plus, interaction between the command post vehicle and dismounted soldiers wearing the Gladius future soldier system is demonstrated.
The Boxer 8x8 armoured vehicle in Command Post version at IDEX 2013 defence exhibition in Abu Dhabi
     

Without a doubt, the GTK Boxer is one of the most advanced, most mobile, best-protected wheeled armoured vehicles on the market today. Having joined forces to form the Artec consortium, Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV) manufactures the Boxer in cooperation with another defence contractor under a bi-national programme, in which Rheinmetall holds a 64% stake. GTK is the abbreviation of “Gepanzertes Transport-Kraftfahrzeug, German for “armoured carrier vehicle”.

Since July 2011 the German ISAF contingent has deployed three different versions of this highly mobile, superbly protected system in Afghanistan: a troop carrier capable of transporting a fully equipped infantry section, a command post vehicle and a field ambulance.

Designed for maximum mobility, this wheeled armoured vehicle’s build-on modules lend themselves to a wide variety of mission-specific variants. The vehicle family consists of a uniform chassis and interchangeable, user-specific mission modules. Among the variants developed thus far are a section transporter, a field ambulance, a combat engineer section vehicle, a driving school version, a logistics vehicle, a battle damage repair vehicle and a command post vehicle.

At IDEX 2013, the German Company Rheinmetall exhibits on its booth a command post version of the Boxer 8x8 armoured vehicle.

The Command Post variants of BOXER are the spearhead of command and control in theatre by acting as a centre for communication and control while being protected to a high level combined with superior mobility. Secured communication, displays for situation awareness in today’s complex battlefield scenarios and instruments for network enabled warfare are key characteristics of this variant

In the configurations of the German and the Dutch Armies the Boxer command post (CP) provide a variety of radio transmitters for secured communication and data exchange. The Dutch configuration will be equipped with the latest C4I-architecture to be integral part of a new generation of vehicles. The German Boxer CP is enabled to fully support the IdZ-System (infantry soldier of the future) and will be equipped with a special 40" display at the rear of the vehicle for briefing and to provide visual situation awareness to dismounted soldiers. Further on, it is equipped with a flexible seating arrangement, providing different seating positions for driving and stationary operation. .

     
The German variant is enabled to fully support the IdZ-System (infantry soldier of the future) and will be equipped with a special 40" display at the rear of the vehicle for briefing and to provide visual situation awareness to dismounted soldiers.
. The German variant is enabled to fully support the IdZ-System (infantry soldier of the future) and will be equipped with a special 40" display at the rear of the vehicle for briefing and to provide visual situation awareness to dismounted soldiers.
     
Of course, there are plenty of other possibilities for the configuration of the GTK Boxer: an air defence vehicle, for example, or a reconnaissance platform or lightweight wheeled tank. To this extent, the Boxer offers tremendous future potential.

At IDEX 2013, a BOXER in infantry fighting vehicle version is shows with a Lance medium-calibre turret. This concept study proved to be the basis of a fully functional combat vehicle. Rheinmetall successfully combined a Lance turret with a Boxer vehicle module and modified build-on module, which has since undergone testing at the Rheinmetall Defence proving ground in Unterlüß, verifying the concept’s validity.

Main armament of Lance medium-calibre turret is normally a Rheinmetall MK30-2/ABM 30mm automatic cannon, though similar weapons of this type may also be used. Up to 200 rounds of two different types of ammunition can be loaded without leaving the safety of the fighting compartment. A 7.62 x 51mm or .50 cal. machinegun serves as secondary armament. The LANCE turret system also comes with a 66mm or 76mm smoke/obscurant grenade launcher.

In a dynamic driving and live fire demonstration in front of a high-profile delegation, the Boxer and Lance provided compelling evidence of their combat effectiveness. The conclusion drawn from this impressive presentation: the combination of a highly protected, highly mobile and mission-proven vehicle platform with the world’s most advanced medium-calibre turret has clear battlefield potential. Moreover, in addition to the decisive parameters of protection, mobility, situational awareness, C4I capabilities and lethality, this configuration offers the major advantage of a spacious fighting compartment.