►RBSL: the Boxer – British by birth

10 September 2019The Boxer 8×8 military vehicle will be exhibited at the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) 2019 trade show.

The Boxer is an 8×8 armoured vehicle which is battle proven, flexible, modular in design, and future proof; with excellent ballistic and mine protection qualities. The Boxer is made by ARTEC, a joint venture between two German companies, Rheinmetall and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann.

Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL), the new UK joint venture launched by Rheinmetall and BAE Systems on July 1st 2019, will play a major role in its manufacture for the British Army’s Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV) programme. Headquartered in Telford in the West Midlands, the joint venture will sustain around 450 jobs across the UK and is well positioned for future growth.

The UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) announced they would re-join the Boxer programme via the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation, or OCCAR, in March 2018. This approach aims to provide the UK with a rapid delivery of the proven Boxer vehicle, an open and transparent procurement and delivery process, as well as compatibility with NATO allies.

The programme aims to source more than 60%, by value, of the vehicle content from UK suppliers, ensuring that the UK maintains sovereign skills and expertise to support the vehicles through their 30 year operational life.

RBSL anticipates this leading to over 400 jobs created and sustained in and around its sites in Telford, Washington (UK), Bristol and Dorset. The complete programme anticipates more than 1000 jobs created and sustained nationally. RBSL also intends to double its apprentice intake, as well as maintain this level over the next five years.

With millions of pounds of investment from the UK Boxer team in designing, integrating and delivering the Boxer vehicles, there is also potential to export the British-built Boxer vehicles internationally.

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