Eurosatory 2018: Lithuania receives first Boxer IFVs

[Zarvan]

Lithuania has taken delivery of it first two pre-series Boxer prototypes configured as heavily-armed IFVs, with series production of the initial batch of vehicles also now getting underway.

The head of ARTEC – the joint venture between KMW and Rheinmetall responsible for Boxer – told Shephard that the prototype vehicles will remain in Germany for the rest of the year to carry out qualification and verification trials on the final build standard.

The two prototypes will be used by ARTEC and Lithuania to agree on final modifications required for the serial production examples, which will begin delivery from the beginning of next year until 2021.

‘From January [2019] onwards this will be the series standard and these two prototypes will be upgraded to the final build standard and also delivered,’ said Stefan Lischka, the MD of ARTEC, speaking at Eurosatory.

The Baltic state has 89 IFV-configured Boxers on order in four subvariants, along with two driver training vehicles (DTV) that were delivered at the end of 2017. All 89 vehicles will feature a Rafael-developed Samson Mk2 remote turret armed with a 30mm Bushmaster cannon, as well as a co-axial 7.62mm machine gun and Spike anti-tank missiles.

As Eastern Europe boosts its defences against a belligerent Russia, the 8x8 vehicles will be one part of the Lithuania's plan to develop its mechanised capability. They will equip the Lithuanian Grand Duke Algirdas Mechanised and the Grand Duchess Birutė Uhlan Battalions of the Mechanised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf.

Meanwhile, Lischka confirmed to Shephard that the Netherlands – one of the original customers for Boxer along with Germany – now had ‘less than five’ vehicles left to be delivered, which will complete the Dutch Army’s order of 200 vehicles.

The composition of the Dutch Army’s Boxer inventory once delivery is complete will include 36 command posts, 52 ambulances, 12 cargo carriers, 92 engineer group vehicles and eight DTVs. Despite completion, the Dutch manufacturing line - which ARTEC utilises along with two German sites - is likely to remain open and be used to retain production capacity.

Discussions are also underway with Slovenia for 48 vehicles, although Lischka was unable to comment in detail about any negotiations. Slovenia’s accession to OCCAR, the governmental organisation that runs the programme, will happen in parallel to the negotiations, with the country formally joining once a contract is signed.

‘We still assume that this will take place this year,’ said Lischka.

Although not confirmed, several sources have indicated to Shephard that Slovenia will closely follow the Lithuanian IFV configuration, owing to the maturity of that design.

Slovenia has also stated a requirement for an additional eight mortar carrier variants, although there is currently no such configuration for Boxer. ‘Currently we are focusing on the 48 and get that running, and then we will focus on the next stage, maybe there are other countries that are interested in [a mortar] variant and it makes sense for them to combine efforts and share costs.’

Lischka told Shephard that Slovenia is studying whether other Boxer user nations are interested in a mortar variant, principally to share development costs.

Meanwhile, the production of a second batch of Boxers for the German Army, approved in 2015, has now entered ‘normal delivery rate’ after an initial ramp up. German ordered the additional 131 APC variants to supplement an initial batch of 272 vehicles (125 APC, 65 CP, 72 ambulance and 10 DTV).

This first batch of German Boxers, including the APC and CP variants, are now going through ‘A2’ upgrades.

The A2 upgrades are ‘mainly in the mission module’ taking lessons learned from missions in Afghanistan, including new racks for ammunition on the roof and water canisters on the back. The vehicles will also receive a new driver vision system, supplied by KMW, in order for it to be licensed to drive on public roads.

Production of the new Boxer A2s and Lithiuanian IFVs are expected to run until 2021.

https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/...tory-2018-lithuania-receives-first-boxer-ifv/