UK Army 1st Battalion Royal Regiment of First Fusiliers Begins Training on New Boxer Infantry Carrier.

British Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, Royal Regiment of First Fusiliers are training on the British Army’s Boxer Infantry Carrier Vehicle as the unit reshapes its armoured infantry role. The move signals a significant shift in how the battalion will fight, deploy, and integrate protected mobility on future operations.

According to information shared on February 3, 2026, by the First Fusiliers X account, soldiers from the British army 1 RRF (First Fusiliers) are undertaking focused training on the British Army’s new Boxer 8x8 infantry carrier armored vehicle as part of a broader battalion transformation. The training effort focuses on the Boxer Infantry Carrier Vehicle variant equipped with the Kongsberg Protector RS4 Remote Weapon System, with soldiers qualifying as drivers, learning vehicle command responsibilities, and conducting live-fire training with the remotely operated weapon station.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

British Army soldiers from the 1st Battalion, Royal Regiment of First Fusiliers conduct live firing with a Boxer Infantry Carrier Vehicle equipped with a Protector RS4 Remote Weapon System during range training as part of the unit’s transition from Warrior to Boxer. (Picture source: First Fusiliers X account)

During the latest training activity, new British Army Boxer wheeled Infantry Carrier Vehicles (ICV) were taken onto live ranges, where Fusilier crews executed firing serials designed to build confidence, gunnery accuracy, and disciplined crew drills on the new platform.

The Boxer vehicles delivered to the British Army First Fusiliers (1 RRF) are Infantry Carrier Vehicles equipped with the Protector RS4, the latest generation of remote weapon stations selected by the British Army for its mechanised infantry force. In British Army service, the RS4 is typically armed with a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun and incorporates fully stabilized day and thermal sights, laser range-finding, and digital fire control. This configuration enables crews to accurately detect and engage threats while remaining fully armoured. Live firing of the RS4 is a critical milestone, as it validates the integration of crew procedures, sensors, and fire control systems on a vehicle that represents a clear departure from previous British Army armoured infantry platforms.

Boxer is a multi-role, 8x8 wheeled armored vehicle developed under a European cooperative program led initially by Germany and the Netherlands, with the United Kingdom later joining as a key participant to equip its future British Army mechanised infantry force. The platform is built on a modular architecture that separates the drive module from mission-specific payload modules, enabling rapid adaptation to roles such as infantry carrier, command post, ambulance, and specialist support variants. In British Army service, Boxer weighs more than 38 tonnes and combines high levels of ballistic, mine, and improvised explosive device protection with long operational range and strong strategic mobility. This design allows British Army units to deploy rapidly by road or sea while reducing sustainment demands compared to tracked platforms, making Boxer a central pillar of the service’s future force structure.

The 1st Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers is a regular armoured infantry battalion of the British Army based at Tidworth Camp in Wiltshire. The battalion remains part of the British Army’s 3rd Division and is held at high readiness within the British Army’s armoured war-fighting reserve. Currently, 1 RRF is equipped with the Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle, a tracked combat vehicle that has been the backbone of British Army armoured infantry units for more than three decades. Warrior was designed to operate in close cooperation with main battle tanks, offering tracked mobility, a manned turret armed with the 30 mm Rarden cannon, and the ability to fight alongside armoured formations in high-intensity conflict.

Warrior’s tracked configuration provides strong cross-country mobility and shock absorption in close terrain, but it also entails a high maintenance burden and limited strategic mobility. As the British Army modernises its force structure, Warrior-equipped battalions are gradually transitioning away from tracked infantry fighting vehicles toward wheeled protected mobility platforms such as Boxer. This shift reflects evolving operational priorities within the British Army, including the need for rapid deployment, extended operational reach, and improved survivability against mines and improvised explosive devices rather than close-range turret-to-turret combat.

For the British Army First Fusiliers, the introduction of Boxer does not immediately replace Warrior across the battalion but signals the beginning of a phased transformation directed by the British Army. Soldiers are now required to adapt from operating a tracked IFV with a manned turret to a wheeled armored vehicle reliant on advanced sensors and a remotely operated weapon system. Commanders must adjust to digital situational awareness and networked command systems, while gunners transition from direct optical engagement to stabilized, sensor-driven fire control. Drivers, meanwhile, are learning to leverage Boxer’s wheeled mobility, which emphasizes endurance, road speed, and reduced logistical strain rather than pure off-road shock-and-maneuver capability.

The Boxer Infantry Carrier Vehicle offers a high level of protection against mines, improvised explosive devices, and battlefield fragmentation, enabling the safe transport of an entire infantry section. Its modular design also provides long-term flexibility, allowing the British Army to introduce new mission modules without replacing the entire vehicle fleet. When paired with the Protector RS4 remote weapon system, Boxer delivers a blend of protection, precision firepower, and mobility suited to contemporary and future British Army operational environments.

For the British Army 1 RRF, the message articulated through this training activity is focused and realistic. The battalion is deliberately concentrating on mastering the fundamentals of Boxer operation and remote weapon employment while Warrior remains in British Army service. This dual-platform period reflects the broader transition underway within the British Army, as legacy tracked systems continue to provide armoured punch. At the same time, new wheeled platforms are introduced to shape the future force. By building competence on Boxer now, the First Fusiliers are positioning themselves to adapt effectively as the British Army’s armoured infantry structure evolves.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.