Australia tests Boxers for C-UAS capability

The Boxer CRV, pictured above from an Australian Army training, mounts the Rheinmetall LANCE 30 mm two-man turret, fitted with the Rheinmetall Mauser MK30-2/ABM dual-feed stabilised cannon and a 7.62 mm co-axial machine gun. (Commonwealth of Australia)

The Australian Army has tested its Boxer 8×8 Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles (CRVs) for counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) capability that can detect and stop or redirect a UAS.

The Boxer CRV “surveilled Objective Otter” during Exercise ‘Talisman Sabre' 2023 – held between late July and early August – as the “eyes and ears” of the 1st Australian Division, the Australian Army said in a press release on 8 August.

Brigadier Michael Say, commander of the Australian Army's 7th Brigade, said the service tested the Boxer's “target acquisition systems to shoot down UASs loitering in the sky”.

The Australian Army is procuring 211 Boxers from Rheinmetall Defence Australia (RDA) under a USD5.2 billion contract signed in 2018 as a part of the Land 400 Phase 2 programme.

The vehicles were scheduled to be delivered in two blocks. RDA delivered the first 25 Boxers – known as Block I vehicles – to the Australian Army in 2019. The Block I vehicles were built and assembled primarily in Germany and underwent final integration and acceptance testing in Australia.

In mid-October 2022 the Australian Army announced that the Block I vehicles had achieved initial operating capability following testing and live exercises. However, the remaining Boxers – known as Block II vehicles – will be manufactured at RDA's Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence (MILVEHCOE) in Australia's Ipswich.

In mid-March the Queensland government said MILVEHCOE has begun full-scale production of Block II Boxer vehicles in Australia.