Boxer (armoured fighting vehicle)

Boxer

German GTK Boxer prototype
Type Armoured fighting vehicle
Place of origin Germany/Netherlands
Specifications
Weight 25.2 t (24.8 long tons; 27.8 short tons) (vehicle);
33 t (32 long tons; 36 short tons) (gross)
Length 7.88 m (25 ft 10 in)
Width 2.99 m (9 ft 10 in)
Height 2.37 m (7 ft 9 in) (baseline vehicle)
Crew 3 (+8)
Armor AMAP composite armour
Main
armament
 40mm automatic grenade launcher (Heckler & Koch GMG) or 12.7 mm heavy machine gun (M3M)
Engine MTU 8V 199 TE20 Diesel[1]
530 kW (711 hp)
Power/weight 16.1 kW/t (max weight)
Suspension 8x8
Operational
range
 1,100 km (684 mi)
Speed 103 km/h (64 mph)

The Boxer is a German-Dutch multirole armoured fighting vehicle designed to accomplish a number of operations through the use of installable mission modules. It 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 seated in Munich, its parent companies are Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH and Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles GmbH (RMMV) on the German side,[2] and Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles Nederland B.V. for the Netherlands.[3] Other names are GTK (Gepanzertes Transport Kraftfahrzeug; armoured transport vehicle) Boxer and MRAV for Multirole Armoured Vehicle.

Production history

The Boxer is a cooperative European design project aimed at producing the next generation of armoured utility vehicle. The project was originally started as a joint venture between Germany, Britain and France, but France left the programme in 1999, later to pursue their own design, the Véhicule Blindé de Combat d'Infanterie (VBCI). However, in early 2001 the Netherlands signed a Memorandum of Understanding and joined the project. In July 2003, shortly after the start of the Iraq war, the UK Ministry of Defence announced its intention to withdraw from the Boxer programme and focus on the Future Rapid Effect System (FRES). Each partner in the programme (including the UK) was to receive four prototypes by July 2004. The first prototype was delivered to Germany in 2002 and was subject to evaluation trials in Germany. The first Dutch prototype was delivered in October 2003. Production deliveries were scheduled to commence in 2004, but the numerous design changes and political problems delayed production until 2008.

The Netherlands requires around 400 Boxers, to replace the M577 and the support variants of the YPR-765 in the Royal Netherlands Army, with the Netherlands having already confirmed the procurement of 200 vehicles in autumn of 2006. The fighting versions of the YPR-765 will be replaced by the CV90 IFV.

On December 13, 2006 the German parliament approved the procurement of 272 Boxers for the German Army,[4] to replace shares of its M113 and Fuchs TPz 1 vehicles. When the high numbers of Fuchs´ become obsolete by 2020, more Boxers are likely to follow.

So far, about 600 Boxers are planned for the German Army. On September 23, 2009, the first Boxer was officially handed over to the German Federal Office of Defence, Technology and Procurement (BWB). In November 2014, Germany ordered another batch of 131 Boxers.

In June 2007, the Boxer was being considered for the British FRES programme.

In spring 2011 first German production vehicles with FLW 200 remote weapon stations (equipped with M2QCB machine guns and H&K 40mm GMGs) were handed over to Infantry Battalion 292 and Mountain Infantry Battalion 231 for training and deployment to Afghanistan in the second half of 2011.

In November 2014, the German Army ordered another 131 Boxers.[5]

Design

HK GMG onboard the Boxer

The Boxer is an eight-wheeled multirole vehicle, easily dwarfing most contemporary vehicles with its size. At 33 ton combat weight, it is also about 10 tons heavier than many other contemporary vehicles within the same role. It is designed to carry out a variety of utility missions with maximum flexibility; this is achieved via several different "mission modules" specialized for various tasks which are available separately from the vehicle. The base vehicle is independent of the modules, and modules can be interchanged within an hour. Each module incorporates a primary safety cell with a triple floor.

Armament

FLW 200 RWS with 40 mm GMW

Most Boxers are equipped with a remote weapon station for self-defense. The German vehicles are usually fitted with the FLW-200 from KMW, which can be fitted with either a 7.62 mm MG3 machine gun, a 12.7 mm M3M HMG or a 40 mm GMW automatic grenade launcher. The FLW-200 has dual-axis stabilization and incorporates a laser rangefinder and a thermal imager. Dutch vehicles are fitted with the Protector M151 RWS from Kongsberg.

As possible firepower upgrade KMW has developed the FLW-200+ and presented it mounted ontop of a Boxer APC at Eurosatory 2012.[6] The FLW-200+ allows the usage of a 20 mm autocannon like the Rheinmetall Rh 202 with 100 rounds loaded at the gun. The RWS is two-axis stabilized and is fitted with a CCTV camera, thermal imager and laser rangefinder.[6]

A number of different turrets has been offered for the IFV mission modules. Variants fitted with the turret of the German SPz Puma, the Lance modular turret system from Rheinmetall or the Lance RC turret have been shown. These turrets are usually fitted with a 30 mm autocannon, a modern fire control system with hunter-killer capabilities and provide provisions for the adoption of anti-tank missiles. Lithuanian Boxers will be fitted with the UT30 Mk 2 turret from Elbit Systems.[7] This will be fitted with a 30 mm gun and Spike-LR anti-tank guided missiles.

Protection

The Boxer is constructed from rolled steel plates. Ontop of the steel, AMAP composite armour is fitted with shock-proof mounting bolts.[8] At some places the armour is fitted in a spaced armour configuration. The armour consists of ceramic tiles, composite materials and different types of metal alloys. According to the manufacturer the AMAP-B ballistic protection, AMAP-IED anti-IED armour and the AMAP-M mine protection are installed on the Boxer.[9] The Boxer's armour is all-round resistant to 14.5 mm armour-piercing ammunition in accordance with STANAG 4569 Level 4. The frontal arc of the vehicle has increased armour protection against medium caliber ammunition at least in accordance with STANAG 4569 Level 5.[10] The roof armour of the Boxer is designed to withstand artillery fragments and bomblets.

To increase the survivability in case of armour penetration, the crew compartment is completely covered by an AMAP-L spall liner. The spall liner stops most of the fragments of the armour and projectile. The Boxer's design has improved accoustic stealth into mind and reduces thermal and radar signature.

The Boxer is protected against anti-vehicle mines and large improved explosive devices (IEDs) with heavy blast even at short distances. The floor of the Boxer is multi-layered.[11] This allows the Boxer to meet at least the STANAG 4569 Level 4a requirements of mine-protections.[10] The seats in the Boxer are decoupled from the floor, which prevents the shock of a mine-detonation to be directly directed onto the crew. Provisions to mount additional passive or reactive armour have been incorporated into the Boxer's design. The design of the Boxer allows also to integrate an active protection system.[11]

Mobility

The Boxer is built with a high degree of standardization, and designed to be maintained easily and efficiently. It is capable of being air transported in the future A400M tactical airlifter.

Protection

The basic vehicle shell is composed of hard steel, and "modular armour" is sandwiched between it and the vehicle cell. The three elements are held together by fastening bolts. The modular armour, currently, is a specialized ceramic mix, but future versions of the armour can be easily fitted to the vehicle by slab replacement. The hull protects against top attack bomblets and anti-personnel mines, including suspended seats to improve crew protection from explosions below the vehicle. The vehicle is outfitted with advanced thermal, radar, and acoustic stealth technology.

Variants

German Army Boxers at Camp Marmal in Afghanistan, 2011.
Boxer chassis
Boxer personnel carrier mission module

The German and Dutch base vehicles are identical, only the mission modules differ.

Known mission modules

Dutch variants[13]

Operators

Map of Boxer operators in blue

Current operators

Potential future operators

See also

References

  1. ↑ "MTU Shop". Mtu-online-shop.de. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  2. ↑ "Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles GmbH". Rheinmetall Defence. Retrieved 2015-09-10.
  3. ↑ "Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles Nederland B.V.". Rheinmetall Defence. Retrieved 2015-09-10.
  4. ↑ "German Parliament Approves Boxer Acquisition". Defense-update.com. Retrieved 2006-12-13.
  5. ↑ http://augengeradeaus.net/2014/11/mehr-boxer-radpanzer-fuer-die-bundeswehr-geplant/
  6. 1 2 Elbertzhagen, Hauptmann Timo. "GTK Boxer im Einsatz in Afghanistan - erste Erfahrungen" (PDF). Wehrtechnik (IV/2012) (Mönch Publishing Group). Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  7. ↑ Wilk, Remigiusz (16 December 2015). "Lithuania selects ARTEC Boxer". Jane's IHS. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
  8. ↑ Nitschke, Stefan. "Schutz bei Rad- und Kettenfahrzeugen - Teil 1" (PDF). Wehrtechnik (Wehrtechnik I 2011 page 52-57) (Mönch Publishing Group). Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  9. ↑ Rosenthal, Jürgen K. G. "Das Gepanzerte Transportkraftfahrzeug (GTK) BOXER" (PDF). Hardthöhenkurier (HHK 1/2012) (K&K Medienverlag-Hardthöhe GmbH). Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  10. 1 2 "Geschützte Fahrzeuge (GeschFzg) (Bw)". panzerbaer.de (in German). Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  11. 1 2 "Protection - Survivability without compromise". www.artec-boxer.com. Artec GmbH. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  12. ↑ KMW unveils AGM-mounted Boxer - Shephardmedia.com, 20 June 2014
  13. ↑ "Boxer". Defensie.nl. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  14. ↑ "artec-boxer.com: Command Post Vehicles". Artec-boxer.com. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  15. ↑ "artec-boxer.com: Armoured Engineer Group Vehicle". Artec-boxer.com. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  16. ↑ "artec-boxer.com: Battle Damage Repair Vehicle". Artec-boxer.com. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  17. ↑ "artec-boxer.com: Cargo Vehicle". Artec-boxer.com. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  18. ↑ "artec-boxer.com: Driver Training Vehicle". Artec-boxer.com. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  19. ↑ "Lithuania to proceed with Germany’s Boxer in armoured vehicle purchase". Reuters. 2015-12-11. Retrieved 2015-12-11.

External links

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