IAV 2026: Artec ramps up Boxer production

German Federal Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius handed over the first RCH 155 8×8 self-propelled howitzer for Ukraine to the Ukrainian ambassador in Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, at KNDS Deutschland's plant in Kassel on 13 January 2025. (Bundeswehr)

KNDS-Rheinmetall joint venture Artec plans to ramp up Boxer armoured vehicle production to around 1,000 vehicles by 2030, Janes learnt at Defence iQʼs International Armoured Vehicles (IAV) 2026 conference held in Farnborough from 20 to 22 January under the Chatham House rule.

There are currently five Boxer production facilities in Europe, providing the foundation for the ramp up. The Boxer supply chain is being increased with additional suppliers, improving existing sites and establishing new capabilities. There is also the possibility of additional assembly lines to meet national industrial strategies.

Artec has delivered or is building over 2,100 Boxers in 28 versions for seven countries, some of which have ordered two or three batches: 837 in eight versions for Germany, 629 vehicles in five versions for the United Kingdom, 272 vehicles in five versions for the Netherlands, 211 in eight versions for Australia, 118 vehicles in five versions for Lithuania, over 50 vehicles in two versions for Ukraine, and 22 in two versions for Qatar.

German, Dutch, and Lithuanian Boxers are interoperable, according to Artec. All seven Boxer operators have the same drive module, which can be changed in 40 minutes.

The operators have decided to further enhance the Boxer common drive module, which can handle a gross vehicle weight of up to 41 tonnes, with no current requirement to increase that weight. Flexibility of operation is provided by the drive module, maintenance, tools, and spares, as well as facilities. Economies of scale for spares have reduced the cost of operation.