KNDS has established a new drive module production line in support of its Boxer 8×8 armored fighting vehicle program in Munich-Allach, a suburb in southern Bavaria, Germany.
Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder joined KNDS Deutschland CEO Florian Hohenwarter at the launch, where they outlined plans to assemble 10 drive modules monthly.
Additional facilities across KNDS and partner locations will further increase capacity as part of a broader push to deliver up to six times more systems by the end of the decade.
“Many armed forces and governments clearly expect us to increase production to boost Europe’s defense capabilities,” Hohenwarter said, emphasizing that Bavaria will remain central to the company’s expansion.
Mission Modules With Dräxlmaier
At the ceremony, KNDS also signed a memorandum of understanding with Vilsbiburg-based automotive company Dräxlmaier to manufacture Boxer mission modules at its Landau an der Isar facility.
Dräxlmaier CEO Jan Reblin, who inked the pact, said his firm will apply its automotive manufacturing expertise to “the industrialization of complex subsystems,” calling the agreement “a significant milestone.”
Söder also described the collaboration as “a perfect match,” highlighting Bavaria’s role as a defense industry hub, with about one-third of Germany’s sector companies based in the state.
Currently, the region supports a workforce of approximately 50,000 and generates 9.5 billion euros ($11.1 billion) in added economic value.
Boxer Vehicle Specifications
The Boxer vehicle was conceptualized in the 1990s and admitted into military service in 2011.
Its modular chassis combines a base drive module with interchangeable mission modules, enabling roles such as combat, troop transport, medical, indirect fire support, and air defense systems.
Depending on configuration, the platform can be fitted with a 720 to a 1,200 horsepower engine to achieve speeds between 45 and 103 kilometers (28 and 64 miles) per hour.
The Boxer can be armed with a turret cannon, light and heavy machine guns, and anti-tank missiles.
More than 2,000 vehicles are in service or on order worldwide, including in Germany, the UK, Australia, and Ukraine.
