Germany and the Netherlands have contracted a joint venture between Rheinmetall and KNDS Deutschland for the procurement of 270 Boxer armored vehicles.
Signed through the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR), the 4.5-billion-euro ($5.25-billion) contract will see the delivery of 198 vehicles to the German Armed Forces and 72 to the Dutch military.
The 3.4-billion-euro ($3.96-billion) German order reportedly includes 150 infantry fighting vehicles, 10 driver training vehicles, and 38 ambulance variants, with deliveries scheduled from 2027 to 2031.
The first Boxer systems for the Netherlands are scheduled for delivery by the end of 2028.
The agreement also provides an option to procure an additional 248 vehicles — 200 for Germany and 48 for the Netherlands.
Schakal Infantry Fighting Vehicle
The contract will deliver a Boxer infantry fighting vehicle variant called Schakal, co-developed by both countries.
The Schakal integrates the Boxer drive module with an unmanned Rheinmetall RCT30 turret, featuring a stabilized 173mm x 30-2/ABM machine gun.
The weapon fires programmable air burst ammunition that detonates at a precisely calculated point, creating a cloud of sub-munitions capable of defeating small drones.
The system is reportedly capable of defeating micro drones at distances of up to 1,500 meters (4,921 feet).
For anti‑tank capability, the turret is equipped with a launcher on its left side, carrying two MELLS anti‑tank guided missiles (Spike LR/Spike LR2).
The platform features the most advanced version of the Boxer drive module, which is expected to become the standard for all OCCAR Boxer participating states.
