Australian Army tests new Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle readiness for amphibious operations.

On March 18, 2025, Brigadier Giles Cornelia, Commander of the 7th Brigade in Brisbane, Australia, reported that crews of the Australian Army’s Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle (CRV) from the 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment (Queensland Mounted Infantry) conducted a training exercise, self-deploying to the Port of Brisbane. The exercise, part of the Army’s efforts to integrate the Boxer CRV into different operational scenarios, included rehearsing procedures and amphibious deployments in coordination with the crew of HMAS Choules, a Bay-class landing ship.
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Under the Land 400 Phase II program, Australia is procuring 211 Boxer CRVs to replace the Australian Light Armoured Vehicle (ASLAV), with deliveries expected to continue until at least 2026. (Picture source: Twitter/Brigadier Giles Cornelia)

Under the Land 400 Phase II program, Australia is procuring 211 Boxer CRVs to replace the Australian Light Armoured Vehicle (ASLAV). Deliveries are expected to continue until at least 2026. The first 25 vehicles, designated as Block I, were produced in Germany through 2021 to allow for early training and capability development. These vehicles were fitted with Australian-specific communications and battlefield management systems and were temporarily equipped with Kongsberg Protector Remote Weapon Stations (RWS) from ASLAVs. Training with the initial vehicles started in October 2020. The remaining 186 Block II vehicles are being produced in Australia at Rheinmetall’s Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence (MILVEHCOE) in Ipswich, Queensland, with production having commenced in late 2022.

The Block II fleet includes 121 reconnaissance vehicles, 29 joint fire support vehicles, 15 command and control vehicles, 10 repair vehicles with cranes, and 11 recovery vehicles with winches. Additional mission modules include five for joint fire support, four for command and control, two for recovery, and one for repair, along with 20 transport frames that enable the modules to be transported by truck within ISO dimensions. The contract includes an option for 11 ambulance modules. More than 40 Australian companies are involved in the production and sustainment of the Boxer CRV, with local industry securing two-thirds of the total $15.7 billion investment over the fleet’s lifecycle, including $10.2 billion allocated for sustainment. The project is expected to create up to 1,450 jobs across Australia.

The Australian government has allocated $235 million for infrastructure upgrades at Puckapunyal and Bandiana (Victoria), Adelaide (South Australia), and Townsville and Enoggera (Queensland) to support Boxer CRV operations. The Boxer armored vehicle program originated as a multinational effort in the 1990s, initially involving Germany, the United Kingdom, and France. The program focused on a modular design with separate drive and mission modules for flexibility across multiple roles. France withdrew from the project in 1999, while the Netherlands joined in 2001. The UK left the program in 2003 but later rejoined in 2018 to acquire Boxer vehicles for the Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV) program. The platform has undergone modifications and upgrades to meet the operational requirements of different users.

The Boxer is in service or on order with Germany, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Australia, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, and Qatar. Germany is procuring additional variants, including the Schwerer Waffenträger Infanterie (sWaTrg Inf) heavy weapons carrier, based on the Australian Boxer CRV, equipped with a Lance turret and Spike-LR missiles. The United Kingdom has ordered more than 600 Boxers in configurations including command post, ambulance, and infantry carrier variants. Lithuania has incorporated engineering variants into its fleet alongside the Boxer Vilkas IFVs, which are equipped with Samson Mk II remote turrets. Australia is producing Boxers domestically at the MILVEHCOE facility, which is also involved in the production of Boxers for Germany. Ukraine has received Boxer vehicles, including RCT30-equipped variants designated AiTO30 FDC, configured for counter-drone operations.

The Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle (CRV) is fitted with a Rheinmetall Lance two-man turret armed with a 30mm MK30-2/ABM chain gun with dual-feed capability, storing 200 ready rounds. (Picture source: Rheinmetall)

Several other Boxer variants have been developed, including the Remote-Controlled Howitzer 155mm (RCH 155), a Boxer-based self-propelled artillery system ordered by Ukraine and the United Kingdom, integrating an automated 155mm howitzer. The Boxer Skyranger 30 is an air defense variant for Germany, armed with a 30mm autocannon and short-range missiles. The Bundeswehr has contracted the Joint Fire Support Team (JFST) variant, which integrates reconnaissance and targeting sensors. A Boxer fitted with the NEMO 120mm mortar turret has been presented as a candidate for the British Army’s armored mortar requirement. The Boxer RCT30, featuring the Puma IFV’s unmanned turret, will be purchased by Germany and the Netherlands. Krauss-Maffei Wegmann also developed a tracked Boxer concept as a potential adaptation for mechanized forces.

The Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle (CRV), procured under Australia’s Land 400 Phase II program, is an 8x8 wheeled armored vehicle fitted with a Rheinmetall Lance two-man turret. It is armed with a 30mm MK30-2/ABM chain gun with dual-feed capability, storing 200 ready rounds. The turret is configured to accommodate a dual Spike-LR2 anti-tank guided missile launcher, confirmed for the 121 Block II reconnaissance variants. The fire control system is fully digital, incorporating a 360-degree commander’s independent sight and a gunner’s sight with both day and thermal imaging channels. A laser rangefinder is integrated into the system for target acquisition. The hull and turret are equipped with modular armor, with provisions for additional ballistic protection. The vehicle includes an NBC protection system.

The Boxer CRV is powered by a 720-hp MTU 8V199 TE20 diesel engine, paired with an Allison HD4070 seven-speed automatic transmission. It has a maximum road speed of 103 km/h and an operational range of 1,050 km. It is designed for mobility in various environments, with the capability to cross 2-meter-wide trenches, overcome 0.8-meter-high vertical obstacles, and operate on gradients up to 60%. The vehicle's modular structure allows for mission-specific reconfiguration, supporting roles including reconnaissance, joint fire support, command and control, repair, and recovery. It has a crew of three (commander, gunner, and driver) and can carry up to six dismounted personnel.

The Boxer CRV is powered by a 720-hp MTU 8V199 TE20 diesel engine, paired with an Allison HD4070 seven-speed automatic transmission, allowing for a maximum road speed of 103 km/h and an operational range of 1,050 km. (Picture source: Rheinmetall)