According to a Tweet released by the DTR Magazine on July 30, 2020, after the contract award two years ago, the first Block 1 Boxer 8x8 armored CRV (Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles) 30 mm turret variants have arrived in Australia. It is planned to deliver the first vehicles to the Australian army end of this year.
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New Boxer CRV 8x8 armored reconnaissance vehicle for the Australian army. (Picture source Twitter account DTR Magazine)
On 13 March 2018, it was announced that Rheinmetall Defense Australia (RDA) had been selected as the preferred tender for the Australian Army's Land 400 Phase 2 program. Previously, on 28 July 2016, it was announced that the Boxer was one of two vehicle types (from four) down-selected to take part in the 12-month Risk Mitigation Activity for Land 400 Phase 2. At the contract negotiation stage, RDA would deliver at least 211 Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles (CRV) to the Australian Army, with a roll-out of initial vehicles stated at this time by 2021. In the Australian army, the Boxer will replace the army's aging fleet of 257 Australian Light Armoured Vehicles (ASLAV) that reach their life-of-type around 2021.
The Boxer is an 8x8 Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle developed by the Industrial Group GmbH consisting of Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and Rheinmetall Landsysteme from Germany, and Stork of the Netherlands as the prime contractor for the program. The Boxer has completed the first trial tests in January 2008, and the vehicle is now in service with Germany, Netherlands, and Lithuania. Following an announcement on 31 March 2018 by the UK government that it was re-joining the Boxer program, the UK government announced on 3 April that Boxer had been selected by the British Army to meet its Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV) requirement.
The Boxer CRV (Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles) – accounting for 133 of the 211 vehicles – is equipped with Rheinmetall’s cutting-edge Lance turret system and armed with a 30mm automatic cannon. These Boxer vehicles will receive a number of Australia specific modifications prior to final delivery to the Army. Modifications include installation of Australian Army specific communications and computing equipment, a remote weapon station, and Australian Army paint.
The Lance turret is a new generation of combat weapon system that includes motion electronics, stabilization systems, electro-optics, sights, sensors and fire control system, as well as all the associated hardware and software architecture and interfaces.
The Lance turret is armed with one Mauser/Rheinmetall MK30-2/ABM (Air Burst Munition) dual-feed automatic 30mm cannon and one 7.62mm coaxial machine gun. The cannon has a maximum firing range of 3,000 km with 200 ready to use ammunition. A unique feature of the Lance turret is its compartmentalized ammunition, which is stored outside of the crew compartment thus substantially increasing survivability. The roof of the turret is also equipped with a remote weapon station armed with a 12.7mm heavy machine gun.
The Boxer CRV will be also armed with launchers for Spike LR2 Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) system designed and manufactured by the Israeli Company Rafael. The missile has an effective range of 5,5 km. For the enhanced lethality the LR2 includes two unique state-of-the-art advanced and highly capable warhead configurations including a tandem HEAT warhead configuration, enhancing the armour penetration capability by more than 30%, and a new multipurpose blast warhead that includes controlled fusing for control of the desired effect.
