TSAMTO, May 7. Rheinmetall Concern handed over to the German Armed Forces for testing the first test sample of the Boxer armored vehicle in the version of the heavy weapons transporter (Schwerer Waffentrager Infanterie).
The ceremony of symbolic transfer of the keys to the BBM took place on May 2 at the Rheinmetall enterprise in Unterlus.
After completion of the tests and elimination of deficiencies, serial production of armored vehicles will be carried out at the Rheinmetall enterprise in Redbank (Australia). The purpose of using Australian capacities is to supply the ordered equipment to the German Armed Forces as soon as possible. The main components of the BBM will be supplied from Germany, including the first 20 production samples and key components of all BBMs. The delivery of serial armored vehicles is scheduled to begin in 2025.
Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH will also be responsible for the full package of logistics, maintenance and repair services and will act as a contact partner of the German Armed Forces throughout the entire life of the BBM.
The armored vehicles will enter service with the so-called "medium forces", which are a new type of formations in the German Armed Forces.
The heavy weapons transporter will replace Wiesel tracked armored vehicles and provide direct fire support to tactical units. BBMs with an 8x8 wheel arrangement can be quickly transferred over long distances and, thus, are expected to increase the efficiency of deployment of the German Armed Forces.
The heavy weapons transporter is based on the Boxer armored reconnaissance vehicle (CRV) of the Australian Armed Forces, which is also supplied by Rheinmetall. The armored vehicle with an 8x8 wheel arrangement will be equipped with a two-seat Lance turret with a Rheinmetall MK30-2 30 mm automatic cannon, which is also installed on the Puma BMP of the German Armed Forces. In addition, the vehicle will receive a multi-purpose missile system ("mehrrollenfahiges leichtes Lenkflugkorpersystem" or MELLS), which will allow the BBM to fight tanks.
The BBMs intended for the Bundeswehr will be assembled at the facilities of the Center for Advanced Technologies in the Field of Military Equipment (MILVEHCOE) in Redbank (Queensland, Australia) together with the BRM for the Australian Armed Forces.
As reported by CAMTO, on March 20, 2024, the budget committee of the German Parliament approved a proposal to purchase BBM Boxer in the amount of 1.94 billion rubles. euro. At the same time, a proposal was approved to provide maintenance services worth about 750 million euros over 5 years.
On March 21, 2024, Rheinmetall signed a contract with the German Armed Forces for the supply of heavy weapons transporters. As part of the agreement, the German Armed Forces will receive up to 123 new armored vehicles, which will become an important element of the emerging "medium forces". The cost of the contract, including maintenance, is about 2.7 billion rubles. euro.
On April 10, 2024, Rheinmetall signed a contract with the Australian authorities for the production of Boxer armored vehicles in the heavy weapons transporter version, more than 100 of which will be exported from Australia for the German Armed Forces. Deliveries of serial BBMs are scheduled to begin in 2025, and the first Australian-made armored vehicle will be delivered to the customer in 2026, and all deliveries under the contract will be completed by 2030.
