111-590: 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
222-664: A Kampfboxer mission module bringing the combination of a 30 mm cannon and Spike-LR anti-tank guided missile to the wheeled platform. This requirement would develop to become the Schwerer Waffenträger Infanterie (sWaTrg Inf) HWC infantry vehicle. In September 2021 OCCAR announced a new reconnaissance vehicle mission module for the Bundeswehr known as the Joint Fire Support Team schwer (Heavy) differentiating it from
333-433: A diesel engine ; modern technology, including the use of turbo-charging , helps to overcome the lower power-to-weight ratio of diesel engines compared to petrol. Gas turbine (turboshaft) engines offer a very high power-to-weight ratio and were starting to find favour in the late 20th century – however, they offer very poor fuel consumption and as such some armies are switching from gas turbines back to diesel engines (i.e.
444-447: A main battle tank will normally be designed to take hits from other tank guns and anti-tank missiles , whilst light reconnaissance vehicles are often only armoured "just in case". Whilst heavier armour provides better protection, it makes vehicles less mobile (for a given engine power), limits its air-transportability, increases cost, uses more fuel and may limit the places it can go – for example, many bridges may be unable to support
555-494: A turret or cupola. The greater the recoil of the weapon on an AFV, the larger the turret ring needs to be. A larger turret ring necessitates a larger vehicle. To avoid listing to the side, turrets on amphibious vehicles are usually located at the centre of the vehicle. Grenade launchers provide a versatile launch platform for a plethora of munitions including, smoke , phosphorus, tear gas , illumination, anti-personnel, infrared and radar-jamming rounds. Turret stabilization
666-420: A 60° slope, and surmounted a 1 m vertical step during trials. ARTEC managing director Stefan Lischka stated that there was no actual customer requirement for such a heavy Boxer at this time. The heaviest current version is the remote-controlled howitzer (RCH) version at 39 tonnes. The Boxer consists of two key elements: the platform/drive-line (the drive module) and the removable mission module. The drive module
777-588: A Boxer variant referred to as Armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicle (AIFV). Like the Boxer Heavy Weapons Carrier, this AIFV variant was expected to be based on or around the Australian Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle (CRV). Rheinmetall and KNDS Deutschland are understood to have proposed different turret options, with the former understood to have offered its two-person Lance turret as fitted to
888-610: A Boxer with a NEMO 120 mm mortar turret. The concept demonstrator was built in response to the Armoured Mortar requirement from the British Army and was shown using an existing British Army drive module. In October it was announced by OCCAR that the Lithuanian Army would receive 27 additional Boxer. Few details beyond a statement that the agreement included a new engineering variant of Boxer were released at
999-744: A British Army engineer. They were very popular with smaller countries. Some saw some combat (with limited success) in World War II. However, the vulnerability of their light armour eventually caused the concept to be abandoned. However, the German Army uses a modern design of air-transportable armoured weapons carriers, the Wiesel AWC , which resembles the concept of a tankette. The term "super-heavy tank" has been used to describe armoured fighting vehicles of extreme size, generally over 75 tonnes. Programs have been initiated on several occasions with
1110-401: A C-UAS capability could then follow. In February 2024 the Bundeswehr the Bundeswehr ordered its first specialised versions of the Boxer with a batch of Skyranger 30 air-defence systems from Rheinmetall. Under a €595 million contract, Rheinmetall will deliver a prototype at the end of 2024, followed by 18 production vehicles, with an option for 30 more. The Skyranger 30 will be a key component of
1221-637: A GBP2.3 billion (US$ 2.97 billion) contract to deliver 523 Boxer in three main configurations, these encompassing nine sub-configurations. In January 2020 in an interview with Shaun Connors of Janes, Stefan Lischka, MD of ARTEC, stated that only 8% of UK Boxers (the original 523) would be manufactured in Germany with the remainder being assembled at and delivered from two sites in the UK, Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) at Telford and KMW subsidiary WFEL at Stockport. Production began in early 2023. In November 2020 it
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#17327718153981332-469: A Hensoldt Spexer X-band radar with three panels each providing 120° azimuth coverage integrated into the turret and an electro-optical tracking sensor with a thermal camera, day camera, and laser rangefinder for target identification and tracking. The turret will also be equipped with Rheinmetall's Rapid Obscuring System (ROSY) smoke grenade launchers. Series production is scheduled to commence in April 2026, and
1443-610: A Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence (MILVEHCOE) constructed by Rheinmetall at Ipswich, southwest of Brisbane, that formally opened in October 2020. This is the company's largest facility outside Germany. Also in September 2019 reports emerged that Algeria had selected the Boxer and that production would commence shortly. As of Q3 2024 this had not been confirmed by ARTEC. In November 2019 the UK Ministry of Defence awarded ARTEC
1554-763: A Vickers QF-1 "Pom-Pom" gun of 40 mm. The Germans fielded the Sd.Kfz. 10/4 and 6/2, cargo halftracks mounting single 20 mm or 37 mm AA guns (respectively) by the start of the war. Rocket launchers such as the Soviet Katyusha originated in the late 1930s. The Wehrmacht fielded self-propelled rocket artillery in World War II – the Panzerwerfer and Wurfrahmen 40 equipped half-track armoured fighting vehicles. Many modern multiple rocket launchers are self propelled by either truck or tank chassis. The level of armour protection between AFVs varies greatly –
1665-600: A contract at the end of January 2021 to upgrade 27 more Boxer command vehicles to the A2 standard, this award bringing all the Bundeswehr's Boxer command vehicles up A2 standard. In December 2019 Germany's BAAINBw ordered 10 Boxer in C-UAS (Counter UAS) configuration, these later designated Extended All Arms Air Defence (EAAAD). By June 2020 all elements of the system had reportedly passed the critical design review and live firing had been conducted. The first systems were to be delivered to
1776-573: A fire suppression system, modification of the RCWS, interface for an IED jammer, satellite communication system and other minor modifications." The latest Boxer variant is the A3. The British were the first customer of the A3 in its entirety. In July 2017 ARTEC awarded the then Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV) a €21 million contract to upgrade 38 Bundeswehr Boxer command vehicles to A2 configuration with work scheduled for completion in mid-2020. At this time
1887-435: A highly mobile and protected fighting unit has been around for centuries; from Hannibal 's war elephants to Leonardo 's contraptions , military strategists endeavoured to maximize the mobility and survivability of their soldiers. Armoured fighting vehicles were not possible until internal combustion engines of sufficient power became available at the start of the 20th century. Modern armoured fighting vehicles represent
1998-473: A new proposal from industry was pending. According to the Slovenian MoD's initial release on the subject, funding had been allocated for the procurement of 48 vehicles in 2018-2020 for the first battle group, which was expected to become operational by 2022, followed by the second in 2025. The desired total was reported to be 112 Boxer (96 IFV, 16 mortar) plus a small number of driver training vehicles. It
2109-484: A quoted combat weight of 35 tonnes, and Nexter 's VBCI , Patria 's AMV and General Dynamics ' Piranha V all weighing in around the 32 to 33 tonne mark. Current combat weight of the Boxer in A3 configuration is quoted as up to 38.5 tonnes. However, ARTEC conducted trials in December 2021 with a Boxer weighing 41 tonnes. The vehicle, which was ballasted and without a mission module, traversed gaps up to 2.2 m, climbed
2220-467: A tank being first deployed as a medium tank, but in later years relegated to light tank roles. Tanks were also classified by roles that were independent of size, such as cavalry tank , cruiser tank , fast tank , infantry tank , "assault" tank, or "breakthrough" tank. Military theorists initially tended to assign tanks to traditional military infantry, cavalry, and artillery roles, but later developed more specialized roles unique to tanks. In modern use,
2331-414: A tank chassis. During World War II, most major military powers developed self-propelled artillery vehicles. These had guns mounted on a tracked chassis (often that of an obsolete or superseded tank) and provided an armoured superstructure to protect the gun and its crew. The first British design, "Bishop" , carried the 25 pdr gun-howitzer in an extemporised mounting on a tank chassis that severely limited
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#17327718153982442-614: A tracked Boxer concept was shown by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) at the Eurosatory defence exhibition. The vehicle remains a concept and is covered in Other variants including prototypes, concepts and developmental platforms. In April 2023 the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence (MND) revealed it planned to purchase more than 120 additional Boxers, and that a contract could be signed as soon as Q4 2023. In July 2024 it
2553-450: A very large movable siege tower, the helepolis , as early as 340 BC, and Greek forces used such structures in the Siege of Rhodes (305 BC). The idea of a protected fighting vehicle has been known since antiquity. Frequently cited is Leonardo da Vinci 's 15th-century sketch of a mobile, protected gun-platform ; the drawings show a conical, wooden shelter with apertures for cannons around
2664-488: A wide variety of both ground targets and air targets. Despite significant advances in anti-tank warfare , it still remains the most versatile and fearsome land-based weapon-systems of the 21st-century, valued for its shock action and high survivability . A tankette is a tracked armed and armoured vehicle resembling a small "ultra-light tank" or "super-light tank" roughly the size of a car, mainly intended for light infantry support or scouting . Tankettes were introduced in
2775-622: Is a tank fulfilling the role of a main battle tank, but using only anti-tank surface-to-surface missiles for main armament. Several nations have experimented with prototypes, notably the Soviet Union during the tenure of Nikita Khrushchev (projects Object 167, Object 137Ml, Object 155Ml, Object 287, Object 775), A flame tank is an otherwise-standard tank equipped with a flamethrower , most commonly used to supplement combined arms attacks against fortifications , confined spaces, or other obstacles. The type only reached significant use in
2886-437: Is also known as the platform or the drive-line module. It consists of the hull mounting the drive axles, and is enclosed over the frontal arc where the powerpack and driver is located. The A (Alteration) iterations applied to the Boxer are specific to the drive module. Initial production examples were A0 and fewer than 60 were delivered. Initial production was A1, followed in 2015 by A2. Current production standard depending on user
2997-430: Is an important capability because it enables firing on the move and prevents crew fatigue. Modern AFVs have primarily used either petrol (gasoline) or diesel piston engines. More recently, gas turbines have been used. Most early AFVs used petrol engines , as they offer a good power-to-weight ratio . However, they fell out of favour during World War II due to the flammability of the fuel. Most current AFVs are powered by
3108-766: Is as of 2023 located in Croydon . The company continues to provide open-source intelligence in the defence, security, aerospace and transport sectors. Of their publications, books (published annually ) include Jane's All the World's Aircraft , Jane's Fighting Ships , Jane's Military Communications , Jane's World Air Forces , Jane's World Navies , and Jane's World Railways . Periodicals include Jane's Defence Weekly , Jane's Intelligence Review , Jane's International Defence Review , and Jane's Navy International . Jane's Police Review (2011) and Jane's Airport Review (2019) were discontinued. Jane's All
3219-685: Is based in Munich ; its parent companies are KNDS Deutschland GmbH & Co and Rheinmetall Land Systeme GmbH on the German side, (with Australian factory) and Rheinmetall Defence Nederland B.V. for the Netherlands. 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 and interchangeable mission modules which allow several configurations to meet different operational requirements. The drive module has been produced in
3330-426: Is distinguished by its high level of firepower, mobility and armour protection relative to other vehicles of its era. It can cross comparatively rough terrain at high speeds, but its heavy dependency on fuel, maintenance, and ammunition makes it logistically demanding. It has the heaviest armour of any AFVs on the battlefield, and carries a powerful precision-guided munition weapon systems that may be able to engage
3441-423: Is either A2 or A3. Australia is receiving an A2/A3 hybrid, in that it will receive the latest A3 drive module (rated at 38,500 kg) but with the A2 standard engine rating of 530 kW (711 hp ) The drive module locates the driver front right (right-hand drive), with the powerpack to the left. The powerpack can be replaced under field conditions in about 30 minutes and can, if required, be run outside of
Boxer (armoured fighting vehicle) - Misplaced Pages Continue
3552-520: Is expected to be completed in March 2028. On 10 April 2024 Rheinmetall Defence Australia and the Australian government signed a production agreement for 103 Schwerer Waffenträger Infanterie (sWaTrg Inf) HWC infantry vehicles. The deal is valued at €1.95 billion, and includes a €746.9 million service and maintenance contract. Germany's parliament approved the deal on 20 March, and the order was placed by
3663-572: Is known to involve at least 480 drive modules being produced by WFEL in the UK, with under half of them being assembled by WFEL into full vehicles covering the Infantry Carriers, Specialist Carriers and Ambulance variants. The remaining drive modules being produced by WFEL will be shipped to RBSL to construct the other full vehicles in a number of variants, including the Specialist Carrier. Rheinmetall's initial contract with RBSL
3774-549: Is presented in as near-chronological order as possible. The Boxer started in 1993 as a joint venture design project between Germany and France , with the UK joining the project in 1996. In November 1999, a £70 million contract for eight prototype vehicles (four each, Germany and the UK) was awarded. France left the programme in 1999 to pursue its own design, the Véhicule Blindé de Combat d'Infanterie (VBCI). In February 2001,
3885-402: Is the hub for the production of the majority of the vehicles, the local build programme including about 40 local suppliers. These industrial opportunities were stated to create up to 1,450 jobs across Australia, The acquisition and sustainment of the vehicles is costed at AUD15.7 billion (US$ 12.2 billion), acquisition worth AUD5.2 billion, the remaining AUD10.5 billion costed for sustainment over
3996-597: Is the official Bundeswehr designation for Boxer. 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. The UK will also receive the RCH-155 . With exceptions for style and ease of reading, the following development and production history
4107-526: Is understood to have been role-driven, the RCT30 turret permitting the transport of a fully equipped grenadier squads, while the Lance turret-equipped sWaTrgInf Heavy Weapons Carrier does not, this vehicle optimised for direct tactical fire in support of infantry forces, not as a transport for them. The project is scheduled for German parliamentary approval later this year (2024), with sources continuing to suggest at
4218-478: Is worth US$ 1.15 billion (GPB860 million) and involves the manufacture of 262 Boxer vehicles at RBSL's assembly line in Telford, UK. All of these vehicles will either be the Specialist Carrier or Command vehicles. The German Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support ( Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr , BAAINBw) awarded Rheinmetall
4329-566: The AS90 . The vehicles will be built in both Germany and the UK with over 100 UK-based suppliers manufacturing components. The platform will be in service with the Royal Artillery by the end of the decade. While not confirmed, it was reported in May 2024 that the Bundeswehr had selected the RCT30 turret option for the 148 Boxer it had identified it required for its new medium forces. The choice
4440-905: The Future Rapid Effect System (FRES) in July 2003. In October 2003, the first Dutch prototype was delivered. In October 2006 the Netherlands confirmed the procurement of 200 Boxers to replace the M577 and the support variants of the YPR-765 in the Royal Netherlands Army . Deliveries were scheduled to run from 2013 through to 2018, and within the RNLA the baseline Boxer is called the Pantserwielvoertuig (PWV), “Armour[ed] Wheel[ed] Vehicle“. On 13 December 2006
4551-755: The Hussite Wars . These heavy wagons were given protective sides with firing slits; their heavy firepower came from either a cannon or from a force of hand-gunners and crossbowmen , supported by light cavalry and infantry using pikes and flails . Heavy arquebuses mounted on wagons were called arquebus à croc . These carried a ball of about 3.5 ounces (100 g). By the end of World War II , most modern armies had vehicles to carry infantry, artillery and anti-aircraft weaponry . Most modern AFVs are superficially similar in design to their World War II counterparts, but with significantly better armour, weapons, engines, electronics, and suspension. The increase in
Boxer (armoured fighting vehicle) - Misplaced Pages Continue
4662-607: The MOWAG Piranha , originally designed as an APC, has been adapted to fill numerous roles such as a mortar carrier , infantry fighting vehicle, and assault gun. Armoured fighting vehicles began to appear in use in World War I with the armoured car, the tank, the self-propelled gun, and the personnel carrier seeing use. By World War II, armies had large numbers of AFVs, together with other vehicles to carry troops this permitted highly mobile manoeuvre warfare . The concept of
4773-420: The Netherlands joined the programme and an additional four prototypes were built for the Netherlands. Boxer, then known as GTK/MRAV/PWV, was unveiled on 12 December 2002. The name Boxer was announced when the second prototype appeared. At this time the first production run was to have been 200 for each country. The UK Ministry of Defence announced its intention to withdraw from the Boxer programme and focus on
4884-776: The Russian Marines with the PT-76 , the British Army with the Scimitar , and the Chinese Army with the Type 63 . Modern main battle tanks or "universal tanks" incorporate recent advances in automotive, artillery, armour, and electronic technology to combine the best characteristics of the historic medium and heavy tanks into a single, all-around type. They are also the most expensive to mass-produce. A main battle tank
4995-640: The Salisbury Plain Training Area . British Army sources denied that the exercise was linked to any decision on a procurement process for its MIV project. In February 2018 it was reported that ARTEC had signed agreements with UK suppliers, this contributing to the fact that 60% by value of the MIV contract will be done in Britain, along with final assembly of the MIVs at facilities already owned by
5106-484: The Second World War (1939–1945). The armoured personnel carrier, designed to transport infantry troops to the frontline, emerged towards the end of World War I. During the first actions with tanks , it had become clear that close contact with infantry was essential in order to secure ground won by the tanks. Troops on foot were vulnerable to enemy fire, but they could not be transported in the tank because of
5217-597: The Second World War , during which the United States, Soviet Union , Germany , Italy , Japan and the United Kingdom (including members of the British Commonwealth ) all produced flamethrower-equipped tanks. Usually, the flame projector replaced one of the tank's machineguns, however, some flame projectors replaced the tank's main gun. Fuel for the flame weapon was generally carried inside
5328-640: The de facto public source of information on warfare and transportation systems. Based in Greater London for most of its existence, the group was owned by the Thomson Corporation , the Woodbridge Company , then IHS Markit , before being acquired by Montagu Private Equity in 2019. In March 2022, Janes acquired Washington, D.C.-based RWR Advisory Group. The company name is officially Jane's Information Group, and it
5439-538: The 100-Boxer award. RBSL will manufacture 234 Boxer, with 117 vehicles to be built in Germany. The German contingent includes the bulk of the 100 vehicles ordered in the second contract, which are being manufactured to ensure that the programme is able to meet the British Army's plans to achieve Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in 2025, and Full Operational Capability (FOC) in 2032. Details of UK Boxer breakdown and designations can be found in Operators. In June 2022,
5550-628: The 12 reconnaissance are classified as MOTS Plus. Once in Australia, these vehicles received a number of Australia specific modifications prior to final delivery to the Army. The first vehicles were in use for training purposes by October 2020, with an Initial Operating Capability (IOC) declared in October 2022. Rheinmetall's contract calls for the delivery of 211 Boxers to the Australian Army, and in service Boxers will fill seven different roles on
5661-628: The Boxer Christoph Jehn, FFG's project manager, stated the ARM was developed as a private venture from 2017. The company noticed Boxer users struggling to recover stranded vehicles with the aid of other Boxers and so decided to develop the bespoke mission module for the purpose. The ARM has an approximate weight of 13 tonnes, is manned by two personnel and connects to the Boxer using standard mechanical interfaces. Other Boxer repair and recovery solutions are being developed. On 24 September 2019 it
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#17327718153985772-511: The Boxer is replacing an ageing fleet of 257 Australian Light Armoured Vehicles ( ASLAV ) that reached their life-of-type around 2021. Under Rheinmetall's offering, the first batch of 20 to 25 vehicles were to be built in Germany with Australians embedded into teams to learn the necessary skills before transferring back to Australia for the build of the remaining vehicles. RDA's Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence (MILVEHCOE) in Ipswich, Queensland,
5883-460: The Boxer was one of two vehicle types (from four) down-selected to take part in the 12-month Risk Mitigation Activity for Australia's Land 400 Phase 2 project, and in March 2018 it was announced that Rheinmetall Defense Australia (RDA) had been selected as the preferred tenderer for that project which at the time called for 211 vehicles, with a roll-out of initial vehicles by 2021 and deliveries scheduled to be complete by 2026. In Australian Army service
5994-461: The Bundeswehr also had 124 Boxer APCs, 72 ambulances and twelve driver training vehicles to upgrade to A2 status, with this work scheduled to conclude during 2024. In February 2018 it was announced that Slovenia had selected the Boxer as the basis for two new mechanised infantry battle groups. In November it was revealed that pricing issues had impacted the Slovenian procurement timeline and that
6105-636: The Bundeswehr by the close of 2020. Boxers with the C-UASs were stated to be used to protect the NATO Response Force Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) which Germany took leadership of in 2023. In 2023 it was stated that deliveries of these C-UAS configured Boxer would occur 2023-2024. In June 2020 the Bundeswehr repeated an earlier statement that it would replace the Wiesel weapon carrier with
6216-1152: The Bundeswehr on 21 March. The sWaTrg Inf is based on the Australian Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle (CRV), this fitted with Rheinmetall's Lance turret. For the sWaTrg Inf the turret will additionally be armed with the Mehrrollenfähiges leichtes Lenkflugkörper-System (Multirole-capable Light Missile System: MELLS), this the Bundeswehr's designation for the Spike LR. The Bundeswehr will acquire up to 123 Schwerer Waffenträger Infanterie (sWaTrg Inf) HWC infantry vehicles in total between 2025 and 2028. The first 20 units are scheduled for delivery during 2025, and these will be manufactured in Germany at Rheinmetall's Unterluess and Kassel plants. The following 103 units will be exported from Australia, having been manufactured at Rheinmetall's Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence (MILVEHCOE) in Queensland between 2026 and 2030. The sWaTrg Inf will replace
6327-484: The Bundeswehr's Nah- und Nächstbereichsschutz (short- and very-short-range air defence: NNbS), for which a Rheinmetall Electronics, Diehl Defence , and Hensoldt Sensors Arbeitsgemeinschaft (ARGE) working group was awarded a contract in January 2023. The turret will be equipped with a 30 × 173 mm KCE revolver gun firing programmable ABM, two Stinger surface-to-air missiles, and a sensor suite. The latter will comprise
6438-604: The Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle (CRV) and Schwerer Waffenträger Infanterie (sWaTrg Inf) HWC infantry vehicle, with KNDS Deutschland proposing its Remote Controlled Turret 30 mm (RCT30). By late 2023, ARTEC had five disclosed Boxer assembly lines in operation which have the capacity to produce 200 vehicles per year beginning in 2024. These facilities are located in Brisbane, Ede, Kassel, Munich and Telford. Lithuania confirmed in January 2024 that at
6549-656: The German parliament approved the procurement of 272 Boxers for the German Army , to replace some of its M113 and TPz 1 Fuchs vehicles, although as of Q2 2024 no TPz 1 Fuchs have been replaced by delivered Boxer. Production of Boxers had been scheduled to commence in 2004, but production was delayed and the first production example was delivered to the German Army in September 2009. Over seven years, prototypes accrued over 90,000 km of reliability trials and over 90,000 km of durability trials. At this time there were three confirmed production facilities for Boxer, one in
6660-639: The Lithuanian MoD stated that 15 vehicles would be delivered in 2019 and that all 89 IFV variants would be delivered by the end of 2023. Most of the original German Army Boxer order was delivered in the A1 configuration. 40 APC and 16 command posts, however, were delivered in the A0 configuration; these were subsequently upgraded to the A1 configuration. In June 2017 it was announced that the Bundeswehr's Boxer A1 fleet would be upgraded to A2 standard. The first A2 Boxer
6771-468: The MoD. The MoD stated that 15 Vilkas would be delivered in 2019 and all 89 vehicles would be delivered by the end of 2023. In September 2019 there were three Boxer-related announcements. On 10 September it was revealed that the target date for the UK's MIV programme to receive its main gate approval was 22 October 2019. It was reported that the business case for the purchase of an initial batch of 508 vehicles, valued at about GBP1.2 billion (US$ 1.48 billion),
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#17327718153986882-412: The Netherlands (Rheinmetall) and two in Germany (Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall). The original German Boxer order covered 125 APC, 65 command vehicles, 72 ambulance, and 12 driver training vehicles. In December 2015 it was announced that Germany had ordered an additional 131 Boxers worth EUR476 million and that Lithuania had selected the Boxer. In August 2016 a EUR385.6 million production contract
6993-404: The Russian T-80 used a gas turbine engine, whereas the later T-90 does not). The US M1 Abrams is a notable example of a gas turbine powered tank. Notable armoured fighting vehicles extending from post-World War I to today. The tank is an all terrain AFV incorporating artillery which is designed to fill almost all battlefield roles and to engage enemy forces by the use of direct fire in
7104-399: The Wiesel 1 tracked tactical direct fire-support weapon carrier in Bundeswehr service, and will equip the Army's new medium forces. As of Q2 2024, the sWaTrg Inf vehicle is expected to begin fielding in 2027. On 24 April 2024, the UK announced its selection of the Boxer-based Remote-Controlled Howitzer 155mm (RCH 155) for the British Army's Mobile Fires Platform programme, as a successor for
7215-479: The aim of creating an invincible siegeworks / breakthrough vehicle for penetrating enemy formations and fortifications without fear of being destroyed in combat. Examples were designed in World War I and World War II (such as the Panzer VIII Maus ), along with a few in the Cold War . However, few working prototypes were built and there is no clear evidence any of these vehicles saw combat, as their immense size would have made most designs impractical. A missile tank
7326-403: The baseline IFV configuration, plus two driver-training vehicles. The exact breakdown being 55 squad-leader, 18 platoon-leader, 12 company-leader, and 4 command-post vehicles. A single IFV would be used for maintenance training. The first two vehicles (driver training configuration) were delivered in December 2017. The first two Boxer in IFV configuration were delivered in June 2019 and at this time
7437-400: The battlefield. The classifications are not absolute; two countries may classify the same vehicle differently, and the criteria change over time. For example, relatively lightly armed armoured personnel carriers were largely superseded by infantry fighting vehicles with much heavier armament in a similar role. Successful designs are often adapted to a wide variety of applications. For example,
7548-466: The battlefield: reconnaissance, command and control, joint fires, surveillance, multi-purpose, battlefield repair and recovery. The reconnaissance variant will account for 133 of the 211 vehicles and is equipped with Rheinmetall's Lance Medium Calibre Turret, previously known as the Lance Modular Turret System (MTS), which has a 30 mm automatic cannon. Also in July 2019 the first two Boxer (Vilkas) IFVs ordered by Lithuania were officially handed over to
7659-421: The best-known infantry tanks was the Matilda II of World War II. Other examples include the French R-35 , the British Valentine , and the British Churchill . Jane%27s Information Group Janes is a global open-source intelligence company specialising in military , national security , aerospace and transport topics, whose name derives from British author Fred T. Jane . Jane's Information Group
7770-409: The bottom of the hull. Weaponry varies by a very wide degree between AFVs – lighter vehicles for infantry carrying, reconnaissance or specialist roles may have only a autocannon or machine gun (or no armament at all), whereas heavy self-propelled artillery will carry howitzers , mortars or rocket launchers. These weapons may be mounted on a pintle , affixed directly to the vehicle or placed in
7881-425: The capacity of transport aircraft makes possible and practicable the transport of AFVs by air. Many armies are replacing some or all of their traditional heavy vehicles with lighter airmobile versions, often with wheels instead of tracks. The first modern AFVs were armed cars, dating back virtually to the invention of the motor car . The British inventor F. R. Simms designed and built the Motor Scout in 1898. It
7992-627: The circumference. The machine was to be mounted on four wheels which would be turned by the crew through a system of hand cranks and cage (or "lantern") gears . Leonardo claimed: "I will build armoured wagons which will be safe and invulnerable to enemy attacks. There will be no obstacle which it cannot overcome." Modern replicas have demonstrated that the human crew would have been able to move it over only short distances. Hussite forces in Bohemia developed war wagons – medieval horse-drawn wagons that doubled as wagon forts – around 1420 during
8103-631: The consortium. In July 2018 there were three Boxer-related announcements made over a period of three days. On 17 July the Dutch MoD announced that the last Dutch Boxer had rolled off the production line, this being a cargo variant. On 18 July the Lithuanian MoD announced that the country's first two Boxer prototypes had entered trials in Germany. On 19 July 2018 the UK MoD disclosed its intent to order between 400 and 600 Boxers in four variants plus driver training vehicles, reference vehicles and support, with
8214-507: The end of 2023 it had completed the procurement of the original 91 Boxer. Also in January 2024 it was reported that the UK had plans to order some additional Boxer variants, although quantities were not revealed. With an Initial Operating Capability (IOC) of the end of the decade, the first priority is to order Armoured Vehicle Launched Bridge, Repair and Recovery, and Armoured Mortar Vehicle configurations in 2024. Serpens Deep Find radar, Mounted Close Combat Overwatch (MCCO) anti-tank vehicles, and
8325-649: The first Self-propelled artillery , was fielded in 1917. It was based on the first tank, the British Mark I , and carried a heavy field-gun. The next major advance was the Birch gun (1925), developed for the British motorised warfare experimental brigade (the Experimental Mechanized Force ). This mounted a field gun, capable of the usual artillery trajectories and even anti-aircraft use, on
8436-818: The first vehicles then to be in-service by 2023. The contract would contain options to increase the quantity of vehicles by up to an additional 900. In March 2019 the Australian Ambassador to Germany inspected the first Boxer being delivered to the Australian Government under the Land 400 Phase 2 programme prior to its shipping to Australia, and in July 2019 the first two of the 25 Boxer being built in Germany arrived in Australia. The 25 vehicles delivered from Germany were split 12 reconnaissance platforms and 13 multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs). The 13 MPVs are classified as military off-the-shelf (MOTS), while
8547-601: 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
8658-438: The frontal assault role. Though several configurations have been tried, particularly in the early experimental "golden days" of tank development, a standard, mature design configuration has since emerged to a generally accepted pattern. This features a main tank gun or artillery gun , mounted in a fully rotating turret atop a tracked automotive hull, with various additional secondary weapon systems throughout. Philosophically,
8769-690: The gun's performance. It was replaced by the more effective Sexton . The Germans built many lightly armoured self-propelled anti-tank guns using captured French equipment (for example Marder I ), their own obsolete light tank chassis ( Marder II ), or ex-Czech chassis ( Marder III ). These led to better-protected tank destroyers, built on a medium-tank chassis such as the Jagdpanzer IV or the Jagdpanther . The Self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon debuted in WWI. The German 88 mm anti-aircraft gun
8880-400: The heavy tank has fallen out of favour, being supplanted by more heavily armed and armoured descendant of the medium tanks – the universal main battle tank . The light tank has, in many armies, lost favour to cheaper, faster, lighter armoured cars ; however, light tanks (or similar vehicles with other names) are still in service with a number of forces as reconnaissance vehicles , most notably
8991-498: The individual vehicle too, depending on the role of the vehicle and the likely direction of attack. For example, a main battle tank will usually have the heaviest armour on the hull front and the turret, lighter armour on the sides of the hull and the thinnest armour on the top and bottom of the tank. Other vehicles – such as the MRAP family – may be primarily armoured against the threat from IEDs and so will have heavy, sloped armour on
9102-515: The intense heat and noxious atmosphere. In 1917, Lieutenant G. J. Rackham was ordered to design an armoured vehicle that could fight and carry troops or supplies. The Mark IX tank was built by Armstrong, Whitworth & Co. , although just three vehicles had been finished at the time of the Armistice in November 1918, and only 34 were built in total. Different tank classifications emerged in
9213-792: The interwar period. The tankette was conceived as a mobile, two-man model, mainly intended for reconnaissance. In 1925, Sir John Carden and Vivian Loyd produced the first such design to be adopted – the Carden Loyd tankette . Tankettes saw use in the Royal Italian Army during the Italian invasion of Ethiopia (1935–1936), the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939), and almost everywhere Italian soldiers fought during World War II . The Imperial Japanese Army used tankettes for jungle warfare . The British Gun Carrier Mark I ,
9324-483: The mid-1920s as a reconnaissance vehicle and a mobile machine gun position They were one or two-man vehicles armed with a machine gun. Colloquially it may also simply mean a "small tank". Tankettes were designed and built by several nations between the 1920s and 1940s following the British Carden Loyd tankette which was a successful implementation of "one man tank" ideas from Giffard Le Quesne Martel ,
9435-515: The muddy, pocked terrain and slit trenches of the Battle of the Somme . The tank eventually proved highly successful and, as technology improved, it became a weapon that could cross large distances at much higher speeds than supporting infantry and artillery . The need to provide the units that would fight alongside the tank led to the development of a wide range of specialised AFVs, especially during
9546-484: The opposing force who can often hear and even feel their arrival. Tanks were classified either by size or by role. Classification by relative size was common, as this also tended to influence the tanks' role. Over time, tanks tended to be designed with heavier armour and weapons, increasing the weight of all tanks, so these classifications are relative to the average for the nation's tanks for any given period. An older tank design might be reclassified over time, such as
9657-527: The realization of an ancient concept – that of providing troops with mobile protection and firepower. Armies have deployed war machines and cavalries with rudimentary armour in battle for millennia. Use of these animals and engineering designs sought to achieve a balance between the conflicting paradoxical needs of mobility, firepower and protection. Siege engines , such as battering rams and siege towers , would often be armoured in order to protect their crews from enemy action. Polyidus of Thessaly developed
9768-549: The smaller Fennek scout car. The new variant will be centred around a sensor mast known as the Panoramic Above Armour Gimbal (PAAG) and built by Thales Group , with imaging sensors for visible to thermal infrared spectra and rangefinding and targeting lasers. Two prototypes were ordered in 2021, with delivery expected during 2024-2026, with full production of 20 vehicles that will operate in pairs to follow in between 2028 and 2031. On 8 April 2022 it
9879-439: The tank is, by its very nature, an offensive weapon. Being a protective encasement with at least one gun position, it is essentially a pillbox or small fortress (though these are static fortifications of a purely defensive nature) that can move toward the enemy – hence its offensive utility. Psychologically, the tank is a force multiplier that has a positive morale effect on the infantry it accompanies. It also instills fear in
9990-613: The tank, although a few designs mounted the fuel externally, such as the armoured trailer used on the Churchill Crocodile . Flame tanks have been superseded by thermobaric weapons such as the Russian TOS-1 . The idea for this tank was developed during World War I by British and French. The infantry tank was designed to work in concert with infantry in the assault, moving mostly at a walking pace, and carrying heavy armour to survive defensive fire. Its main purpose
10101-773: The time that the Netherlands could also order a batch of RCT30-fitted Boxer. The Lance and RCT30 turrets are both fitted with Rheinmetall's 30 mm cannon. The RCT30 turret is essentially that fitted to the PSM Puma IFV. In September it was confirmed that the Dutch would acquire the RCT30 Boxer. The Dutch 13th Light Brigade announced on September 17 that its two infantry battalions would be reinforced with Boxer RCT30 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs). No contract, acquisition timeline details or similar were given. Also in September 2024, Rheinmetall in partnership with Patria presented
10212-416: The time. The Boxer is an eight-wheeled multirole vehicle that at the time of its development easily exceeded most comparable vehicles in weight and dimensions. In recent years the size/weight differences between Boxer and its contemporaries has reduced considerably, with Boxer quoted to have a combat weight of 36.5 tonnes in 2016 in A1 and A2 configurations, while vehicles such as ST Kinetics ' Terrex 3 had
10323-673: The vehicle for test purposes. A0 A1 A2 A2/A3 hybrid Armoured fighting vehicle An armoured fighting vehicle ( British English ) or armored fighting vehicle ( American English ) ( AFV ) is an armed combat vehicle protected by armour , generally combining operational mobility with offensive and defensive capabilities. AFVs can be wheeled or tracked . Examples of AFVs are tanks , armoured cars , assault guns , self-propelled artilleries , infantry fighting vehicles (IFV), and armoured personnel carriers (APC). Armoured fighting vehicles are classified according to their characteristics and intended role on
10434-530: The vehicles' 30-year life. During Boxer's selection process, protection received a higher priority than lethality. Lethality was followed by mobility, then by sustainability and C4ISR considerations. In March 2018 it was announced by the UK government that it was re-joining the Boxer programme, and in April 2018 it was announced that Boxer had been selected by the British Army to meet its Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV) requirement. No details relating to quantity, cost, timeline or any contractual status were given. It
10545-524: The weight of a main battle tank. A trend toward composite armour is taking the place of steel – composites are stronger for a given weight, allowing the tank to be lighter for the same protection as steel armour, or better protected for the same weight. Armour is being supplemented with active protection systems on a number of vehicles, allowing the AFV to protect itself from incoming projectiles. The level of protection also usually varies considerably throughout
10656-503: Was announced that ARTEC consortium partners Rheinmetall Landsysteme and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) had awarded two separate subcontracts to Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) and WFEL respectively for the local production of Boxers for the UK. RBSL and WFEL were selected by Rheinmetall and KMW respectively to be the UK Tier 1 suppliers and operate one Boxer production line each. The value of KMW's initial contract has not been announced, but
10767-591: Was announced that Lithuania would in fact procure tracked IFVs to compliment a planned new tank battalion, but some additional Boxers will still be acquired to serve as engineering vehicles, command posts, and reserve. During the Future Armoured Vehicles Survivability (FAVS) conference held in November 2023, a representative from the German Army explained that the service intended to field four medium brigades. These brigades were planned to be equipped with new Boxer variants, including
10878-411: Was announced that the first Boxer for the Australian Army had formally been handed over. The turretless vehicle was the first of 25 Boxers – 13 multipurpose and 12 reconnaissance variants – that were being manufactured in Germany through to 2021 to meet an early Australian capability requirement for familiarisation and training purposes. Production of the other 186 platforms began in late 2020/early 2021 at
10989-623: Was currently under scrutiny by financial, commercial, and technical experts before receiving final approval by ministers. UK MoD officials submitted their final business case for the purchase of the Boxer MIVs on 9 September 2019 to meet the British Army's target of getting its first Boxer in service by 2023. At the 2019 Defence and Security Equipment International exhibition (DSEI 2019) in London, Germany's Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft (FFG) presented an armoured recovery mission module (ARM) for
11100-468: Was delivered in June 2015. The differences between A1 and A2 configurations are relatively minor electrical and mechanical engineering changes. The A2 standard resulted from operations in Afghanistan and incorporates changes in the drive and mission modules that include preparation for the integration of a driver vision system, changes to the stowage concept in both modules, changes to the gearbox, integration of
11211-490: Was disclosed that British Army would receive an additional 100 Boxers, bringing the order total to 623. No variant breakdown or other details was provided at the time. In 2023 it was disclosed that inclusive of the additional 100 Boxer ordered in 2022, RBSL is now contracted to manufacture 272 Boxers in the Specialist Carrier Vehicle (SCV) and Command Post configurations, this total including 10 Boxer from
11322-442: Was equipped with a Hotchkiss machine gun , and with 7 mm armour for the gunner. Armoured cars were first used in large numbers on both sides during World War I as scouting vehicles. In 1903, H. G. Wells published the short story " The Land Ironclads ," positing indomitable war machines that would bring a new age of land warfare, the way steam-powered ironclad warships had ended the age of sail . Wells's literary vision
11433-478: Was first reported in October 2016 that the British Ministry of Defence had taken its first formal step towards government-to-government acquisition of Boxers. At DSEI 2017, a Boxer in a Union Jack paint scheme was shown by Rheinmetall to promote the vehicle for the MIV requirement. In November 2017, a company of German Army mechanised infantry equipped with 11 Boxers exercised with British Army units in
11544-478: Was founded in 1898 by Fred T. Jane , who had begun sketching ships as an enthusiast naval artist while living in Portsmouth . This gradually developed into an encyclopedic knowledge, culminating in the publishing of All the World's Fighting Ships (1898). The company then gradually branched out into other areas of military expertise. The books and trade magazines published by the company are often considered
11655-437: Was placed by Lithuania for the supply of 88 Boxers, and at this time it was stated that 53 Boxers would be manufactured by KMW and the remaining 35 by Rheinmetall, with deliveries running 2017–2023. In Lithuanian service, the vehicle is designated as Vilkas (Wolf). The precise mix/number of Lithuanian vehicles was initially unclear but according to Janes , Lithuania would receive 91 Boxers in the A2 configuration, 89 as variants of
11766-607: Was powered by a four-cylinder 3.3-litre 16 hp Cannstatt Daimler engine giving it a maximum speed of around 9 miles per hour (14 kilometres per hour). The armament, consisting of two Maxim guns, was carried in two turrets with 360° traverse. Another early armoured car of the period was the French Charron, Girardot et Voigt 1902 , presented at the Salon de l'Automobile et du cycle in Brussels , on 8 March 1902. The vehicle
11877-645: Was realized in 1916, when, amidst the pyrrhic standstill of the Great War , the British Landship Committee deployed revolutionary armoured vehicles to break the stalemate. The tank was envisioned as an armoured machine that could cross ground under fire from machine guns and reply with its own mounted machine guns and naval artillery . These first British tanks of World War I moved on caterpillar tracks that had substantially lower ground pressure than wheeled vehicles, enabling them to pass
11988-521: Was reported mid-2019 that the planned Boxer procurement had been suspended, the MoD deciding to conduct research and draw up a new comprehensive tactical study relating to the formation of a medium infantry battalion group, this likely to affect the procurement of 8×8 wheeled armoured vehicles. The ministry will then re-examine options available and make a decision on how to build a medium infantry battalion group capability. In July 2016 it had been announced that
12099-582: Was the first armed, petrol-engine powered vehicle ever built. It consisted of a De Dion-Bouton quadracycle with a Maxim machine gun mounted on the front bar. An iron shield offered some protection for the driver from the front, but it lacked all-around protective armour. The armoured car was the first modern fully armoured fighting vehicle. The first of these was the Simms's Motor War Car , also designed by Simms and built by Vickers, Sons & Maxim in 1899. The vehicle had Vickers armour 6 mm thick and
12210-507: Was to suppress enemy fire, crush obstacles such as barbed-wire entanglements, and protect the infantry on their advance into and through enemy lines by giving mobile overwatch and cover . The French Renault FT was the first iteration of this concept. The British and French retained the concept between the wars and into the Second World War era. Because infantry tanks did not need to be fast, they could carry heavy armour. One of
12321-615: Was truck-mounted and used to great effect against British tanks, and the British QF 3-inch 20 cwt was mounted on trucks for use on the Western Front . Although the Birch gun was a general purpose artillery piece on an armoured tracked chassis, it was capable of elevation for anti-aircraft use. Vickers Armstrong developed one of the first SPAAGs based on the chassis of the Mk.E 6-ton light tank/ Dragon Medium Mark IV tractor , mounting
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