Trials Begin for the British Army's Boxer Armoured Vehicles.

On July 14, 2023, the British Army announced that their forthcoming all-terrain armored vehicle, the Boxer, is scheduled to undergo a comprehensive testing phase. The vehicle will commence this month with industry trials, followed by customer trials conducted by Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) in the autumn.
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Trials begin for the British Army's Boxer armoured vehicles (Picture source Rheinmetall)

The British Army is preparing to receive four variants of the Boxer, each designed to fulfill specific functions: Infantry Carrier, Specialist Carrier, Command Post Carrier, and Ambulance. The Specialist Carrier variant will be compatible with existing weapon systems, including heavy machine guns, general-purpose machine guns (GPMG), grenade machine guns (GMG), and the Javelin anti-tank guided weapon station.

These Boxer vehicles will be integrated into the Army's battalions within the Armored Brigade Combat Teams, specifically developed for rapid deployment over long distances and operations in diverse terrains.

In 2018, the UK announced its decision to rejoin the Boxer program within the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation. This move aimed to explore options for equipping the Army with 8x8 troop carriers to modernize its vehicle fleet and meet the Army's Mechanized Infantry Vehicle requirement.

On November 5, 2019, the Defense Secretary, Ben Wallace, announced the signing of a £2.8 billion deal for the Mechanized Infantry Vehicle (MIV) program. This deal would provide the British Army with approximately 500 new Boxer armored vehicles, which would become part of the Army's Strike brigades.

Army Recognition reported on April 11, 2022, that the British Army would receive an additional 100 armored Boxer vehicles, bringing the total to 623 vehicles. Furthermore, on August 3, 2022, it was reported that Rolls-Royce Solutions UK had been selected to supply their MTU engine for the British Army's Boxer armored vehicles.

The Boxer is manufactured by the ARTEC consortium, consisting of Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV) and fellow German defense contractor Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW). This bi-national program is majority-owned by Rheinmetall with a 64% stake.

The Boxer vehicle family is renowned for its modular design, which enhances its versatility compared to standard infantry vehicles. It features a uniform drive module that enables quick reconfiguration with different mission modules to perform various roles on the battlefield. Some mission variants currently in development include troop carriers, field ambulances, combat engineering vehicles, command vehicles for C4I and C2 operations, logistics vehicles, and battlefield maintenance vehicles.

One of the advantages of the Boxer is its highly protected 8x8 armored platform, designed to withstand threats like mines, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and ballistic assaults. This provides efficient transportation of soldiers in challenging environments, allowing for long-distance cross-country travel even under potential enemy fire.

Weighing approximately 38.5 tonnes, the Boxer is capable of transporting troops for a range of missions, from peacekeeping to full-scale warfare.

The Boxer incorporates advanced technological features, including a digitized armored structure capable of withstanding the effects of a nuclear explosion, as well as a Nuclear Biological and Chemical (NBC) protection system for threat detection and countermeasures. It also includes a 360-degree Situational Awareness System.

To meet future requirements, the Boxer is designed to be compatible with digital communication networks. It currently supports the Bowman system and has the potential to integrate with future networks, enabling secure communication among combat vehicles within the Brigade Combat Team. The Boxer variants are primarily used by several NATO nations, including Germany, the Netherlands, Lithuania, and the UK, as well as Australia, which is a close NATO partner.

Defense News July 2023