Boxer Program Continues On a Bilateral Basis
(Source: Artec GmbH; issued Nov. 23, 2004)
MUNICH, Germany --- Today OCCAR-EA have placed a major industrial contract amendment with ARTEC GmbH, Munich, on behalf of Germany and the Netherlands affecting the leave of the United Kingdom of the Boxer programme.
The contract for the completion of the development of a family of armoured utility vehicles has been renewed to assure the successful completion of the development phase for Germany and the Netherlands.
ARTEC GmbH, as the Industrial Prime Contractor representing the German companies Kraus-Maffei Wegmann (GE), Rheinmetall Landsysteme (GE) and the Dutch company Stork (NL), is developing the Boxer family of vehicles.
The key features of the BOXER are:
--High level of protection against anti-tank mines and medium-calibre ammunition
--Excellent tactical and operational mobility
--Substantial useable volume, delivering high payload capacity for a wide range of roles
--Balanced System Design reflecting an optimisation of mix of weight, cost, protection and high mobility requirements
--Integrated Logistics Support (ILS)
--Ergonomics in accordance with the latest standards.
The development programme has resulted in 12 Boxer prototypes that have commenced extensive trials successfully since June 2003 and many milestones have been achieved today.
Further trials will be performed until mid 2006 including extensive reliability, durability and logistic trials.
The decision to go ahead with Boxer series production by Germany and the Netherlands is foreseen in the second half of 2006.
The visible outcome of the Boxer programme will be a vehicle family that will enable the participating nations to equip their armed forces with the most advanced vehicles. For the armed forces, the vehicle will serve as a platform that is able to meet the challenges posed by today’s and future multi-spectral missions.
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