Boxer MRAV
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| General Characteristics (Boxer) | |
| Length: | 7.88 m |
| Width: | 3.61 m |
| Height: | 2.99 m |
| Vehicle weight: | 25.2 t |
| Maximum gross weight: | 33 t |
| Speed: | 103 km/h (road)
- (through water) |
| Range: | 1050 km |
| Engine capacity: | 530 kw |
| Power to weight ratio: | 21 kW/t; 16.1 kW/t (at 25.2t; 33t vehicle weight) |
| Payload: | 7.8 t |
| Crew: | up to 11 |
| Armament: | Reconfigurable to suit operational and national requirements |
The Boxer is a European Multirole Armored Vehicle (MRAV) designed to accomplish a number of operations through the use of installable mission modules.
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Production history
The Boxer is a cooperative European design project aimed at producing the next generation of armored utility vehicle. The project was originally started as a joint venture between Britain and Germany, but in early 2001 the Netherlands signed a Memorandum of Understanding and joined the project. In July 2003, shortly after the start of the Iraq war, the UK Ministry of Defence announced its intention to withdraw from the Boxer program and focus on the Future Rapid Effect System (FRES). Each partner in the program (including the UK) is to receive four prototypes by July 2004. The first prototype was delivered to Germany in 2002 and is undergoing evaluation trials in Germany. The first Dutch prototype was delivered in October 2003. Production deliveries are scheduled to commence in 2007.
Germany is set to acquire 1000 Boxers, to replace its M113 and Fuchs Tpz 1 vehicles.
The Netherlands requires 384 Boxers, to replace the YPR and M577 in the Netherlands Royal Army.
The Boxer is produced by the ARTEC GmbH industrial group, and the program is being managed by OCCAR (Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation).
Design
The Boxer is a European MRAV designed to carry out a variety of utility missions with maximum flexibility. It is built with a high degree of standardization, and designed to be maintained easily and efficiently. The Boxer is capable of being air transported. The Boxer is also designed to accommodate a large number of "mission modules", each one enabling the vehicle to conduct a specific task. The base vehicle is independent of the modules, and modules can be interchanged within an hour. Each module incorporates a primary safety cell with a triple floor.
Known Mission Modules
- Headquarters
- Medical
- Logistics
Protection
The basic vehicle shell is composed of hard steel, and "modular armor" is situated between it and the vehicle cell. The three elements are held together by fastening bolts. The modular armor, currently, is a specialized ceramic mix, but future versions of the armor can be easily fitted to the vehicle by slab replacement. The hull has some protection against top attack bomblets and blast mines. The vehicle is outfitted with advanced thermal, radar, and acoustic signature reduction technology.
External links
- Army Technology Boxer Information (http://www.army-technology.com/projects/mrav/index.html)
- OCCAR Boxer Information (http://www.occar-ea.org/C1256B0E0052F1AC/vwContentFrame/N254SN5C259SLEREN)