Anyone who follows me knows I'm enthusiastic about 8x8 platforms. So naturally I was curious to see how recent events in Ukraine would impact the @BritishArmy decision to purchase Boxer. Everything I've seen convinces me that this is the right vehicle, at the right time.
Like Saxon and FV432, Boxer is not intended to enter the direct fire zone. It's a battlefield taxi, but it can deposit the troops it carries much closer to the action. It has great mobility and provides the troops riding in it with very high levels of protection.
I worry that UK Boxers need to be better able to protect themselves, which is why a turreted version with at least a 30x173 mm cannon would be a worthy addition to the fleet. I'm a great fan of @kongsbergasa RT60 turret, which is 50 mm-ready with twin ATGM in a 3-tonne package.
it is likely that @BritishArmy will add a wide range of variants to the fleet and that the total number purchased substantially may comfortably exceed the initial order. But, right from the outset, this vehicle is right and will deliver.
A quick word about mobility. A demonstration was conducted in the UK in Nov-Dec 2021. Boxer showed its ability on-road and off-road. Its party trick is the central tyre inflation system and (non-Chinese) tyres. These provide a larger contact patch with the ground...
So, I'm excited about this coming into service and believe our soldiers will love it. (Full disclosure: I'm the UK advisor to KMW (part of the ARTEC consortium responsible for delivering it. ) I don't work for @kongsbergasa I just think it's a great company with great products.)
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