The UK Ministry of Defence has taken delivery of its first home-built 8×8 Boxer armored vehicle, produced at Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land’s Telford plant. First showcased in January at a major defense exhibition, the vehicle was transferred to Bovington where British Army crews will train on its operation and maintenance procedures.
This handover is part of a large-scale modernization effort worth £5 billion ($6.1 billion), aimed at delivering 623 Boxers and 148 Challenger 3 tanks by the end of the decade. Once in service, these platforms will boost the army’s combat mobility, protection, and adaptability in diverse operational environments.
Notably, this marks the UK’s return to armored vehicle production after a hiatus of more than ten years, the last being the Terrier armored fighting vehicle in 2013. The new Boxer, designed with a modular mission system and an all-terrain wheeled 8×8 chassis, will serve within the Strike Brigades, enabling fast troop movement and equipment deployment in both conventional and expeditionary roles.
The platform boasts a crew capacity of 11, a top speed of 103 km/h, and an impressive range of 1,050 km. With its combination of speed, endurance, and modular flexibility, the Boxer is positioned to be a key asset in the UK’s future force structure.
