GTK Boxer Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle ~ Part 1

In the first quarter of 2018 significant procurements of the GTK BOXER have been announced by Australia, Slovenia and the United Kingdom.

Our Senior Correspondent Carl Schulze has photographed the BOXER extensively and in detail, on both exercises and operational deployments, and has written more about this versatile armoured vehicle than almost any other photojournalist. In the light of recent procurements, we are republishing one of Carl’s reports in several parts, accompanied by a library of photos, including some not previously seen.

The Gepanzertes Transport Kraftfahrzeug (Armoured Transport Vehicle) Boxer, also known as Boxer Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle (MRAV), recently entered operational service with the German Bundeswehr. From 2011 the vehicle was deployed with the German ISAF contingent in northern Afghanistan.

This multi-part briefing will cover the Boxer’s development history and technology and also describe the variants already in service with the German armed forces.

Since the end of the Cold War armed forces around the world have begun more and more to replace tracked armoured vehicles with wheeled ones in their inventory. In case of some nations, there are even movements to totally phase out tracked vehicles and replace them in all branches of the armed forces with wheeled armour.

There are plenty reasons for this development. One, for example, being the changing mission spectrum of the modern armed forces which are moving away from the conventional warfighting of the Twentieth Century and are now focusing on peace-keeping, stabilisation and counter-insurgency (COIN) operations. For these types of missions highly mobile, fast and well protected vehicles are required, which additionally can ideally be deployed rapidly by heavy transport aircraft.

Especially in the field of speed & mobility, wheeled vehicles have an advantage over tracked ones, and they are usually also easier to deploy due to being lighter. In addition, wheeled vehicles usually have a less aggressive appearance and cause less damage to roads and fields; both points are important factors that should not be underestimated in the battle for winning hearts and minds.

Another reason for the move towards wheeled vehicles is money, as defence budgets are constantly shrinking and available funds are often limited. Wheeled armoured vehicles in most cases have the advantage that they can be procured at a much lower price than tracked, and maintaining them is also much less expensive. One reason for this is that wheeled vehicles often incorporate commercial off-the-shelf components, such as engines, transmissions and axles from commercial trucks.

These developments are reflected by the quantity of modern latest generation wheeled armoured vehicles and vehicle families available on the international market today. In case of the western world this includes, among others: the Véhicule Blindé de Combat d’Infanterie (VBCI) marketed by Nexter Systems in France and in service with the French Armed Forces; the Piranha V marketed by General Dynamics European Land Systems MOWAG GmbH in Switzerland; the Armoured Modular Vehicle (AMV) marketed by Patria Oyj in Finland and in service with the Swedish, Finnish, Polish, Slovenian and Croatian Armed Forces; and the GTK Boxer Multi Role Armoured Vehicle (MRAV) marketed by ARTEC GmbH in Germany, in service with the German Bundeswehr and  with the Royal Netherlands Armed Forces.

To be continued…..

Report and images © Carl Schulze unless noted.

See also:-

• GTK Boxer Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle ~ Part 1
• GTK Boxer Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle ~ Part 2
• GTK Boxer Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle ~ Part 3
• GTK Boxer Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle ~ Part 4
• GTK Boxer Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle ~ Part 5
• Album ~ GTK Boxer Ambulance