“British Army Expands Fleet with 100 Additional Boxer Vehicles”

The British Army is set to acquire an additional 100 armoured Boxer units, guaranteeing that more vehicles reach the frontline swiftly and enhancing the programme to a total of 623, as the UK preserves its defence collaboration with Germany, as revealed by the Prime Minister today.

The contemporary digitized armoured units can be employed to transport troops to the frontline and can be quickly reconfigured to serve diverse functions on the battlefield.

The UK and Germany have cooperated closely on the Boxer initiative for the British Army, with the Boxer assembly in the UK benefiting from German proficiency, intelligence, and teamwork.

With more than 400 Boxer vehicles in their inventory, Germany has operated older variants of the vehicle for over a decade, including deployments in Afghanistan. Their success in the German Army drives the continual development of new vehicle variants.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson stated:

In these challenging times, our robust defence partnership provides reassurance to our populace and the broader global community, while assuring we are equipped to address emerging threats.

This collaborative initiative will guarantee our armed forces are equipped with cutting-edge technology as the incursion in Ukraine challenges the very essence of European stability and security.

Boxer assembly for the British Army is currently in progress. The initial 117 units are being manufactured on German production lines, as UK facilities in Telford and Stockport prepare for the remaining 506 vehicles and commence production.

The first Boxer units will be deployed to units starting in 2023, with the entire programme safeguarding up to 1,000 jobs nationwide, enhancing skill sets and establishing an ambitious apprenticeship scheme in the UK.

Defence Procurement Minister, Jeremy Quin remarked:

This order will expedite the delivery of the Boxer fleet to the British Army and augment its numbers.

The land equipment upgrade is a crucial component of the Integrated Review, which we continue to execute. Collaborating with our German partners creates opportunities for both of our Armed Forces.

As an extension to the £2.8 billion contract declared in 2019, production of the additional vehicles will commence shortly. UK manufacturing is concentrated in Telford through Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL), and Stockport via WFEL, with supply chain sub-contracts distributed across the UK, including Glasgow with Thales.

Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Sir Christopher Tickell KBE commented:

This is a pivotal announcement for the Army in bolstering this essential capability under the Integrated Review. Boxer will constitute the foundation of our modernized Armoured Brigade Combat Teams, and it’s excellent news for our service members to receive more of these exceptional platforms as part of delivering Future Soldier, while also investing in the UK’s defence sector and supply chains.

Enhancing and accelerating Boxer production ensures combat readiness remains central to the British Army, and today’s announcement reaffirms our threat-led strategy, as outlined in the Integrated Review.