JANUARY 2018 | MANE AEROSPACE, DEFENCE & SPACE | 15
MAY 2018 | MANE AEROSPACE, DEFENCE & SPACE | 15
BACK TO BOXERS
The UK exited the development of Boxer wheeled armoured vehicles fourteen years ago. However, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has stated that we will be rejoining the program and equipping the British Army with the 8X8 in 2023.
“The U.K. will re-join the Boxer program and explore options to equip the Army with the 8x8 troop carriers to modernise its vehicle fleet and meet the Army’s mechanised infantry vehicle requirement,” the MoD said.
At the time the UK left the program in 2003 the vehicles had grown in weight which made them too heavy for transport by the Royal Air Force C-130s. The programme is predicted to support at least 1,000 British jobs.
Other countries have followed suit, Australia has selected the Boxer for its Land 400 Phase 2 program, Slovenia has also selected the Boxer. Lithuania has become the programs first export customer back in 2016 with delivers later this year. ■