German Army to Get Boxer Infantry Vehicle with Puma Turret Merging Firepower, Mobility and Anti-Drone Tech.

On June 24, 2025, Germany formalized its commitment to acquire a new class of infantry fighting vehicles by merging two of its most advanced platforms: the Boxer chassis and the Puma turret. This procurement, intended for the German Army’s “Medium Forces,” marks a shift toward highly mobile, modular, and drone-resilient ground combat systems. As reported by Defence Blog and several German news outlets, the €3.9 billion project represents both an industrial investment and a strategic recalibration of Germany’s land combat doctrine.
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The genesis of this Puma-Boxer hybrid lies in the German Army’s push for a wheeled IFV suited to rapid deployment, urban operations, and reduced logistical demands, lessons learned from Puma’s experience and Boxer’s modular success (Picture source: KNDS)

The Boxer RCT30, developed by KNDS Germany, integrates the well-established Boxer 8x8 wheeled vehicle with the remote-controlled RCT30 turret derived from the Puma tracked IFV. The turret is armed with Rheinmetall’s 30mm MK 30-2/ABM autocannon, capable of engaging targets while on the move, and a dual MELLS launcher for Spike LR2 anti-tank missiles. Recent upgrades include counter-UAV capabilities and Rheinmetall’s MUSS 2.0 soft-kill active protection system. The vehicle is designed around the Future Common Drive Module (FCDM), increasing payload to 40 tonnes and allowing modular compatibility with older mission modules while supporting more powerful engines. Enhancements such as twin rear hatches, larger internal dimensions, a 360° awareness system, and even an integrated toilet for extended operations illustrate KNDS’s drive to meet operational endurance needs.

The genesis of this Puma-Boxer hybrid lies in the German Army’s push for a wheeled IFV suited to rapid deployment, urban operations, and reduced logistical demands, lessons learned from Puma’s experience and Boxer’s modular success. The concept evolved in consultation with partner nations like the Netherlands, which plans to acquire 72 similar systems under OCCAR (Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation), reinforcing interoperability. Unlike the tracked Puma, the Boxer RCT30 offers greater speed and road mobility, addressing the need for strategic reach. The choice of OCCAR as procurement vehicle signals a European-wide alignment around standardized ground combat systems. This shared development path recalls other joint programs, such as the UK-Germany Boxer cooperation, laying the groundwork for deeper integration of platforms across NATO.

Technically, the Boxer RCT30 distinguishes itself from older wheeled IFVs like France’s VBCI or Italy’s Freccia by combining high off-road mobility with cutting-edge lethality and survivability. The RCT30 turret, originally optimized for the Puma, brings battlefield-proven fire control, programmable munitions, and a low-profile unmanned configuration. This gives the Boxer RCT30 a firepower advantage over manned turret variants used in other NATO vehicles. Its modular engine design allows operational flexibility between the 530 kW MTU TE20 and the British-derived 600 kW TS21, enabling rapid swaps in the field, an advantage over fixed-engine platforms. Moreover, the design addresses long-standing complaints from Puma crews about cramped conditions, accommodating larger soldiers and gear. Small innovations like an onboard toilet, already in service on UK Boxers, show attention to real operational needs in protracted missions.

Strategically, the program positions Germany to fill a capability gap between heavy tracked armor and lighter patrol vehicles. The new "Medium Forces" category will be optimized for rapid deployment within NATO and EU response frameworks, enabling Germany to project force without relying exclusively on its heavier mechanized brigades. Given current instability on NATO’s eastern flank, this wheeled platform offers flexibility for reinforcement missions, hybrid warfare scenarios, and anti-drone defense. The Boxer RCT30, with its modularity and digital backbone, could also serve as a platform for future autonomous or optionally crewed upgrades, aligning with emerging NATO doctrines on multidomain operations.

Financially, the German government earmarked €1.1 billion in 2025 to initiate industrial production, including infrastructure buildup. The total €3.9 billion contract, pending Bundestag approval, will span multiple years, with major deliveries scheduled post-2028. A €25 million approval motion may advance before the summer recess, allowing OCCAR to formalize procurement processes. Although the draft budget doesn’t disclose the number of units, internal Bundeswehr planning reportedly targets 148 vehicles. The Netherlands’ 72-unit plan, if synchronized, could generate economies of scale and reinforce European defense integration. KNDS Germany, already a central player in the Franco-German MGCS project, positions itself as a keystone in Europe’s next-gen ground forces market.

This next-generation Boxer IFV embodies a critical step toward a more mobile and digitized German Army. Beyond filling an immediate operational need, it reflects Berlin’s deeper shift toward force flexibility, survivability in drone-contested environments, and closer European defense cooperation through OCCAR. The RCT30 Boxer is more than a new vehicle, it is a vehicle for transformation.