Boxer (armoured fighting vehicle)

Boxer
The Boxer RCT30 IFV variant on display at DVD 2024.
TypeArmoured fighting vehicle
Place of origin Germany
 Netherlands
Service history
In serviceSince 2011 [1]
Used bySee Operators
WarsAfghanistan war (ISAF)
NATO Response Force
Production history
DesignerARTEC GmbH [de]
Designed1998–2009
ManufacturerRheinmetall
Krauss-Maffei Wegmann
Unit cost
  • APC €4 – 5 million
  • IFV €7 – 9 million[2]
Produced2009–present
No. built1,765 as of October 2024 (deliveries and confirmed orders for which quantities are given :See Operators[3][4][5][6]
Specifications (see Specifications section)
CrewSee Boxer variants and mission modules
Main
armament
See Boxer variants and mission modules

The Boxer is a multirole armoured fighting vehicle designed by an international consortium to accomplish a number of operations through the use of installable mission modules. The governments participating in the Boxer programme have changed as the programme has developed. The Boxer vehicle is produced by the ARTEC GmbH (armoured vehicle technology) industrial group, and the programme is being managed by OCCAR (Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation). ARTEC GmbH is based in Munich; its parent companies are KNDS Deutschland GmbH & Co[2] and Rheinmetall Land Systeme GmbH on the German side,[7] (with Australian factory)[8] and Rheinmetall Defence Nederland B.V. for the Netherlands.[9] Overall, Rheinmetall has a 64% stake in the joint venture.

A distinctive and unique feature of the vehicle is its composition of a drive module[2] and interchangeable mission modules which allow several configurations to meet different operational requirements. The drive module has been produced in the following build configurations: A0, A1, A2, A3 and an A2/A3 hybrid. These configuration changes are the result of improvements resulting primarily from the mission in Afghanistan, and modifications required by some users. The main changes are in protection levels (increased), uprated suspension to account for a weight increase, and the powerpack.

Other names in use or previously used for Boxer are GTK (Gepanzertes Transport-Kraftfahrzeug; armoured transport vehicle) Boxer and MRAV (Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle). GTK is the official Bundeswehr designation for Boxer.[10] Confirmed Boxer customers as of August 2024 are Germany, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Australia, the UK, Ukraine, and Qatar. Ukraine's delivery is entirely Boxer-based RCH-155, with this order placed by the German federal government.[11] The UK will also receive the RCH-155.

  1. ^ "Boxer". militarytoday. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "Land Warfare Platforms: Armoured Fighting Vehicles - Boxer (Sept 2024 updates)". Janes. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  3. ^ "Last Bundeswehr GTK Boxer Delivered". Joint Forces News. 23 June 2021. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  4. ^ Defensie, Ministerie van (20 April 2023). "Boxer-pantserwielvoertuig - Materieel - Defensie.nl". www.defensie.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  5. ^ "Lithuania to receive second batch of Vilkas IFVs | DefenceToday.com". 2 May 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  6. ^ "Rheinmetall begins local production of Boxer CRVS - Australian Defence Magazine".
  7. ^ "Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles GmbH". Rheinmetall Defence. Retrieved 10 September 2015.
  8. ^ "First Qld made Boxer CRV military vehicles under local production in Ipswich". The Queensland Cabinet and Ministerial Directory.
  9. ^ "Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles Nederland B.V." Rheinmetall Defence. Retrieved 10 September 2015.
  10. ^ "Boxer MRAV Multi Role 8x8 Armoured Vehicle data fact sheet | Germany German army wheeled armoured vehicle UK | Germany German army military equipment UK". www.armyrecognition.com. 31 December 2023.
  11. ^ Richardson, Jack (20 September 2022). "RCH 155 SPH For Ukraine - European Security & Defence". euro-sd.com. Retrieved 18 January 2024.