Sunday 9 February, 2025

First British-made Boxer AFV unveiled at International Armoured Vehicle Conference

The first fully British-made Boxer 8×8 armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) has been unveiled at the International Armoured Vehicle Conference in Farnborough, England.

The UK Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Maria Eagle, presented the vehicle on 21 January at the International Armoured Vehicle conference, stating: “It was a pleasure to unveil the first fully British-made Boxer – a testament to the expertise and innovation of Britain’s growing Defence Industry.” 

“The home-grown production of this world-class vehicle exemplifies our Government’s Plan for Change, deepening our partnership with industry to deliver thousands of highly skilled jobs and drive growth across the UK.”

Approximately 75% of the components for the Boxer AFV are procured from domestic sources, thereby guaranteeing a robust domestic supply chain.

An investment of GBP 5 billion is being allocated to provide the British Army with 623 Boxer AFVs and 148 Challenger 3 main battle tanks (MBT), anticipated to be operational by the end of 2030.

The UK government stated that this funding reinforces the United Kingdom’s status as a global frontrunner in defence innovation and manufacturing, while also fulfilling the government’s Plan for Change.

The Boxer programme currently supports around 400 jobs in Telford and Stockport, as well as a thousand jobs across the UK supply chain, supporting the UK Government’s growth mission.

The vehicle is designed to operate in a range of environments, from urban areas to open terrain and has a high level of survivability, thanks to its composite armour, mine protection, and active defence systems. It also has a high payload capacity, allowing it to carry more equipment and personnel than other vehicles in its class. The Boxer can travel at speeds of up to 100 km/h on roads and 70 km/h off-road, and has a range of up to 1,000 km.

The Boxer is a modular platform that can be configured for different roles, such as infantry carrier, command vehicle, specialist carrier and ambulance and will provide enhanced mobility, protection and firepower for the British Army’s mechanised infantry units.

It will replace the ageing Warrior and FV432 vehicles currently in service, and offers greater flexibility and adaptability for the British Army’s future operations, as it can be rapidly reconfigured for different missions and scenarios, supporting the British Army’s modernisation efforts.

Neil Ritchie
Neil Ritchie
Neil Ritchie is the founder and editor of DefenceToday.com. Neil has a keen interest in the UK armed forces and national security issues as well as global defence procurement and cyber security matters. He also researches and writes about military history. Neil can be found on Bluesky: @neilritchie.bsky.social

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