Special Report: Germany begins ordering new Boxer variants

The Bundeswehr ordered 123 Boxer sWaTrg Inf HWC infantry vehicles from Rheinmetall on 21 March. (Rheinmetall)

The Bundeswehr is procuring its first specialised versions of the Boxer, placing orders with Rheinmetall for Skyranger 30 air-defence systems mounted on Boxers in February and heavy weapon carriers (HWCs) in March.

It ordered 123 Schwerer Waffenträger Infanterie (sWaTrg Inf) HWC infantry vehicles from Rheinmetall on 21 March, the German company announced in a press release the same day.

On 20 March the Bundestag, Germany's parliament, approved the EUR1.95 billion (USD2.1 billion) procurement, plus a EUR746.9 million service and maintenance contract, with deliveries planned for 2025–30.

HWC

The sWaTrg Inf will replace the Bundeswehr's Wiesel 1 tracked tactical direct fire support weapon carrier and equip the German Army's new medium forces, which will be rapidly deployable over long distances.

The vehicle is based on the Australian Defence Force's Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle (CRV), equipped with an armoured reconnaissance mission module including a two-strong Lance turret armed with Rheinmetall's MK30-2 airburst munition (ABM) automatic cannon that is also the main armament of the German Army's Puma infantry fighting vehicle (IFV). The German Federal Ministry of Defence expects this to create synergies between the two vehicles in logistic processes and through the use of the same ammunition. The sWaTrg Inf will also be armed with the Multirole-capable Light Missile System (Mehrrollenfähiges leichtes Lenkflugkörper-System: MELLS), the Bundeswehr's designation for Spike LR.

Rheinmetall will use the production capacities of its Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence (MILVEHCOE) in Redbank, southeast Queensland, Australia, to mass-produce the sWaTrg Inf as well as the CRV.

Medium forces