Boxer / Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV)

Contains threads on British Army equipment of the past, present and future.
Ron5
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Re: Boxer / Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV)

Post by Ron5 »

Lord Jim wrote:I am not saying that Boxer is some utopian answer to all nations problems..
I laughed when I read this, I'm sorry :lol: :lol: :lol:

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Re: Boxer / Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV)

Post by Lord Jim »

Despite what other nations are doing, the British Army is in a position where it has little choice than to use Ajax as has been said. IT hasn't got the funding to do the multitude of capability upgrades and introductions its need to by 2030,when its holiday ends, so any purchase of a new tracked IFV can only really happen if something else is removed from the equipment plan. The Army is more likely to be able to upgrade a number of the planned Boxer APCs to a version with greater firepower using a autocannon in an unmanned turret of between 30mm and 40mm, and add Javelin to others, in a similar way to how the US Army has upgraded a number of its Stryker Battalions.

All the other nations that are lucky enough to be able to field both new tracked IFV and wheeled APC/IFVs are using both with their armoured formations. Germany will be soon introducing its Cavalry Boxer variant with the same turret as the Australian CRV though it may be the unmanned version I a not sure.

If Ajax failed, how much of the money allocated to the programme was still available would be the main determining factor on what replaced it. But again Boxer would be a strong candidate in my opinion.

I fear the Army, though it cam out of the recent Command Paper quite bullish may find it being further pressured to lose its heavier formations in favour of a more deplorable force mix. It may only retain the Deep Precision Fires BCT as its contribution to NATO's land forces in Europe with possibly one of the LSGs and a light BCT for one of its flanks. The reasoning for this could be s desire to increase either the Royal Navy or Airforce or both as they are easier to fit in the Governments global model.

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Re: Boxer / Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV)

Post by Lord Jim »

Ron5 wrote:I laughed when I read this, I'm sorry
No problem, I though it might get that reaction.

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Re: Boxer / Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV)

Post by UKD »

This might or might not be a silly question but can a wheeled platform like Boxer function effectively in a place like northern Norway? Considering that in Europe the only two relevant regions that could be invaded by Russia are the Baltics and Scandanavia, it would be a bit mental if the entirety of our armoured infantry was unable to function in one of them.

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Re: Boxer / Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV)

Post by Lord Jim »

Short answer, yes. The Finnish army uses a significant number of home grown 6x6 wheeled platforms that are a few generations behind the Boxer, which has better tyres, suspension and power train. If you are taking about 12ft+ snow drifts then you are limited to vehicles like the Viking as neither normal tracked or wheeled platforms are going to be able to operate effectively in those conditions.

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ArmChairCivvy
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Re: Boxer / Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV)

Post by ArmChairCivvy »

US Army is also starting a catch-up
"a release of the Army’s ‘Regaining Arctic Dominance’” strategy,” Williams said.

The strategy — the service’s first to focus on the region — was released to the public in March. It laid out plans to establish a two-star headquarters with specially trained and equipped combat brigades;"
and the vehicles going head-to-head are the old (but in new derivatives) Beowulf and Bronco3.

As @LJ says, you can't rely on tanks and just by putting a 30mm autocannon turret on their light-pressure troop transports, the Russians have created an overmatch.
Ever-lasting truths: Multi-year budgets/ planning by necessity have to address the painful questions; more often than not the Either-Or prevails over Both-And.
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Re: Boxer / Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV)

Post by BB85 »

The boxer has completed trials in either Norway or Sweden (I can't remember where). Finland developed the Patria 8x8 and 6x6 so is happy to go all wheels for APCs. In Finland mobility will be key with ground units well dispersed because whoever controls the airspace will obliterate the opponent's ground forces. The Baltic's will be more reliant on heavy armour, capturing and holding ground. If Latvia was happy to go with Boxer I'd like to think it's well suited to their environment. Ultimately the British army can't afford to have specialised vehicles to suite every niche environment.
Boxer will definitely fit the bill, it's infuriating we pulled out if it in 2003 because it wouldn't be air transportable in a C130 when the army new we would be ordering Atlas.

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Re: Boxer / Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV)

Post by sol »

BB85 wrote:Finland developed the Patria 8x8 and 6x6 so is happy to go all wheels for APCs.
For APC, yes, for IFV no. Finnish Army still has over 200 CV9030 and BMP-2M and they are not getting rid of them. All BMP-2M were modernised recently and for CV9030, Finland already sign contract with BAe for modernisation. On the other side, both Norway and Sweden have more tracked armoured vehicles then wheeled. Norway upgraded its CV90 fleet, and is still ordering additional vehicles, not to mention they it is buying new tanks too.

I am sure that Boxer is good vehicle, but question is is it the best vehicle for HBCT, and how well will they cooperate with CR3s. And unlike Lithuania, British Army is not even having IFV version and no indication that it would get one any time soon.

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Re: Boxer / Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV)

Post by Lord Jim »

We have cancelled the WCSP, Ajax is in a bit of trouble and we have an initial batch of over 500 Boxers on order for teh APC, Command, Ambulance and Specialist roles. We are initially replacing the Warriors with Boxer APCs but we also need to purchase a number of Boxer variants to fully flesh out the Infantry Battalions and to provide support vehicles to other units. It would be far cheaper to purchase a number of Boxer IFV Mission Modules to partially equip the Infantry Battalions in the HBCTs, and a number of IFV Mission Modules have been developed which are either in service, will soon be, or are being developed, so development costs can be kept down. Running costs for a platform like Boxer compared to its tracked equivalent are substantially lower as are training. A Boxer is inherently more flexible and survivable in a modern battlefield, either in the Grey Zone or full contact. It can self deploy and is mush more resistant to mines, whilst have similar protection against other threats.

So the above and the fact that the Army cannot afford another family of tracked vehicles and the support infrastructure to support them until the mid to late 2030s at the earliest. We are already waiting ten years for the Army's initial transformation, we do not really want to wait another five or more years. We should simply go with Boxer and make the most of it.

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Re: Boxer / Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV)

Post by ArmChairCivvy »

Lord Jim wrote: We are already waiting ten years for the Army's initial transformation, we do not really want to wait another five or more years.
While i agree with the sentiment, 5+ years is what the ISDs are for just about every major (conceptually, if not in the number of units indicated for now) army prgrm
Lord Jim wrote: a number of IFV Mission Modules have been developed which are either in service, will soon be
Have you rated them? As in having the top three in mind
- we have/ would have such a mismatch of calibers that are getting close to the situation in Oz (as even the Rarden soldiers on)
Ever-lasting truths: Multi-year budgets/ planning by necessity have to address the painful questions; more often than not the Either-Or prevails over Both-And.
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Re: Boxer / Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV)

Post by Ron5 »

Lord Jim wrote:We have cancelled the WCSP, Ajax is in a bit of trouble and we have an initial batch of over 500 Boxers on order for teh APC, Command, Ambulance and Specialist roles. We are initially replacing the Warriors with Boxer APCs but we also need to purchase a number of Boxer variants to fully flesh out the Infantry Battalions and to provide support vehicles to other units. It would be far cheaper to purchase a number of Boxer IFV Mission Modules to partially equip the Infantry Battalions in the HBCTs, and a number of IFV Mission Modules have been developed which are either in service, will soon be, or are being developed, so development costs can be kept down. Running costs for a platform like Boxer compared to its tracked equivalent are substantially lower as are training. A Boxer is inherently more flexible and survivable in a modern battlefield, either in the Grey Zone or full contact. It can self deploy and is mush more resistant to mines, whilst have similar protection against other threats.

So the above and the fact that the Army cannot afford another family of tracked vehicles and the support infrastructure to support them until the mid to late 2030s at the earliest. We are already waiting ten years for the Army's initial transformation, we do not really want to wait another five or more years. We should simply go with Boxer and make the most of it.
You seem to be saying that even if the army had plenty of money, Boxer would be the best choice for an IFV.

Not many armies in the world would agree with that.

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Re: Boxer / Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV)

Post by mr.fred »

Lord Jim wrote:whilst have similar protection against other threats.
I’ve never seen a Boxer decked out in ERA.

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Re: Boxer / Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV)

Post by ArmChairCivvy »

mr.fred wrote:
Lord Jim wrote:whilst have similar protection against other threats.
I’ve never seen a Boxer decked out in ERA.
Here is a sales-y piece that offers a 'counter'
https://www.rheinmetall-defence.com/en/ ... /index.php
Ever-lasting truths: Multi-year budgets/ planning by necessity have to address the painful questions; more often than not the Either-Or prevails over Both-And.
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)

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Re: Boxer / Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV)

Post by Lord Jim »

Ron5 wrote:You seem to be saying that even if the army had plenty of money, Boxer would be the best choice for an IFV.

Not many armies in the world would agree with that.
I am actually saying the opposite. Boxer will be replacing Warrior in the four to be Mechanised Infantry Battalions. If money could be found then purchasing a number of IFV Mission Modules for a number of these it would increase the capability of these units. The problem lies in how we replace the significant number of FV430 series platforms still in service. Yes a number went through an upgrade programme, but the costs of operating them, let alone deploying them is greater then for equivalent wheeled platforms. In addition the Army needs a platform(s) to provide an enhanced SHORAD capability, ideally replacing the stormer as the chassis for the Starstreak/LMM system, as well as being the mount for dismounted users of the Same system, who currently use the Spartan variant of the CVR(T) family in many cases.

I am pretty sure that add on armour packages for the Boxer are available, though maybe not ERA, but I maybe wrong.

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Re: Boxer / Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV)

Post by Lord Jim »

A great short video from Rheinmetall, posted on You Tube showing how the Mission Modules can be changed in the field;

The use of a MAN HX 8x8 to move the crane, and unload it using its EPLS means a field workshop can be set up and packed up quickly, very important these days. Having just a deployable crane rather than a JCB look alike, means costs can be kept down, whilst the vehicles themselves have a pretty good cross country capability so said workshop should be able to be set up fairly close to the action if needed.. I wonder if the British Army might pick a few of these to be integrated into the Mechanised Infantry Battalions HQs, or allocated to REME. We already have the MAN HX 8x8s EPLS so it should be affordable.

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Re: Boxer / Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV)

Post by mr.fred »

Lord Jim wrote: 19 Nov 2021, 00:05 A great short video from Rheinmetall, posted on You Tube showing how the Mission Modules can be changed in the field;
But why would you ever want to do that?
On top of which, how much additional weight and cost does that drive into the design?

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Re: Boxer / Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV)

Post by BB85 »

I imagine this would be a lot easier to stick on an Atlas or C17 with a base vehicle and fly to Mali where a switch over could easily be made if a boxer was damaged by an IED.

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Re: Boxer / Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV)

Post by mr.fred »

BB85 wrote: 19 Nov 2021, 12:05 I imagine this would be a lot easier to stick on an Atlas or C17 with a base vehicle and fly to Mali where a switch over could easily be made if a boxer was damaged by an IED.
If a Boxer is written off by an IED, what are the chances that the mission module is undamaged?

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Re: Boxer / Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV)

Post by Ron5 »

Seems Luddites are alive and well :D

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Re: Boxer / Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV)

Post by RunningStrong »

mr.fred wrote: 19 Nov 2021, 12:10
BB85 wrote: 19 Nov 2021, 12:05 I imagine this would be a lot easier to stick on an Atlas or C17 with a base vehicle and fly to Mali where a switch over could easily be made if a boxer was damaged by an IED.
If a Boxer is written off by an IED, what are the chances that the mission module is undamaged?
And who's going to make that assessment in the field? I'd have thought after a catastrophic incident like an IED you'd want a full weld inspection before you start chopping it onto another vehicle.

It's a bit like sayinga turreted vehicle can just swap turrets onto a spare hull. I've not known spare hull to be kept in reserve, or this to be done as a battle damage repair. Boxer certainly addresses the spare hulls issue by repurposing.

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Re: Boxer / Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV)

Post by mr.fred »

Ron5 wrote: 19 Nov 2021, 12:30 Seems Luddites are alive and well :D
If you can’t answer a question, that’s not the fault of the one asking the question, you know?

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Re: Boxer / Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV)

Post by Ron5 »

mr.fred wrote: 19 Nov 2021, 12:37
Ron5 wrote: 19 Nov 2021, 12:30 Seems Luddites are alive and well :D
If you can’t answer a question, that’s not the fault of the one asking the question, you know?
Fair enough but there's a load of circumstances that would disable the chassis and leave the module unaffected. I guess we'll see if the the Boxer armies pick up this capability.

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Re: Boxer / Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV)

Post by BB85 »

The scenario can be reversed when the module is damaged and needs to be replaced or just no longer required if the army wants to swap one out for an ambulance module they can. A big benefit of boxer is that modules and base vehicles are significantly lighter to transport by air than a single 38T 8x8 APC. If something breaks you only need to transport half a vehicle in an Atlas or C17 and switch out in the field.

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Re: Boxer / Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV)

Post by mr.fred »

Ron5 wrote: 19 Nov 2021, 13:02 there's a load of circumstances that would disable the chassis and leave the module unaffected. I guess we'll see if the the Boxer armies pick up this capability.
What circumstances though? I’m having difficulty thinking of any that wouldn’t be better addressed by repairing the chassis or simply bringing in a whole new vehicle.

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Re: Boxer / Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV)

Post by Ron5 »

mr.fred wrote: 19 Nov 2021, 15:40
Ron5 wrote: 19 Nov 2021, 13:02 there's a load of circumstances that would disable the chassis and leave the module unaffected. I guess we'll see if the the Boxer armies pick up this capability.
What circumstances though? I’m having difficulty thinking of any that wouldn’t be better addressed by repairing the chassis or simply bringing in a whole new vehicle.
If you can’t answer a question, that’s not the fault of the one asking the question, you know?

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