Boxer punches harder

Being shown for the first time at DSEI is the German Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft (FFG) (Stand S7-125) Boxer Armoured Recovery Module (ARM). Developed as a private venture by FFG, assembly of the prototype started in March 2019, followed by initial testing at the FFG Flensburg facility in July 2019. Additional trials will be carried out later this year.

Almost 1,000 Boxer multirole armoured vehicles are already under contract and deployed by Germany, Lithuania and the Netherlands. It has also been ordered by Australia, and has been selected by the UK to meet its mechanised infantry vehicle requirement.

The ARM, which has seating for the commander and gunner and weighs about 13 tonnes, is a direct replacement for the existing mission module and adds substantial new capabilities to the Boxer.

It can be fitted with a roof-mounted remote weapon station, which is normally provided as government furnished equipment, as are the communication system and radio installation. Its all-welded steel armour construction with an appliqué passive armour package provides the same level of ballistic protection as the standard Boxer mission module.

Mounted on the roof to the rear and on the left side is a hydraulically operated crane with a boom length of 5.3m and a lifting capacity of 20 tonnes. Prior to being used, two hydraulically operated stabilisers on outriggers are extended and lowered to the ground on either side. There is also a hydraulically operated stabiliser blade at the rear.

To enable other vehicles to be recovered, a hydraulically operated winch with a capacity of 20 tonnes and 60m of Kevlar rope is fitted leading out to the rear. Space is also provided in the ARM for specialised equipment for its battlefield mission, including cutting and welding equipment and pneumatically operated tools.

Like the standard Boxer mission module, the FFG Boxer ARM is fitted with a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear protection system, and a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.