IAV 2024: UK plans more Boxer variants
One possible additional UK Boxer variant is the MCCO, the concept demonstrator for which fitted with a launcher for eight Brimstone missiles was displayed at DVD 2022. (Janes/Christopher Petrov)
The UK plans additional variants of the Boxer armoured vehicle, Janes learnt at the International Armoured Vehicles (IAV) 2024 conference being held in London from 22 to 25 January.
The first priority is to order Boxer Repair and Recovery Vehicle, Armoured Mortar Vehicle, and Armoured Vehicle Launched Bridge variants in 2024, with initial operating capabilities (IOCs) at the end of the decade. This could be followed later by the Serpens Deep Find radar, Mounted Close Combat Overwatch (MCCO) anti-tank vehicles, and counter-unmanned aircraft system vehicles, and if the UK selects it for the British Army's Mobile Fires Platform (MFP) programme, Remote Controlled Howitzer (RCH) 155 self-propelled artillery with IOCs in 2031–37.
The UK has so far ordered 146 Infantry Carrier Vehicles, 200 Specialist Carrier Vehicles, 212 Command and Control Vehicles, and 65 Ambulance versions of the Boxer for one or two brigade combat teams.
The first two Boxers in UK configuration built in Germany were delivered by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann + Nexter Defense Systems (KNDS) to the British Army at the end of December 2023 for trials with the Royal Fusiliers. The IOC of the UK Boxers ordered so far is planned for 2025.
