- Yes
- No
Introduction
General Boxer History
The Boxer armoured vehicle originated in the early 1990s as a Franco-German project to create a highly mobile, highly protected, multirole 8×8 platform to replace a range of legacy vehicles. By the early 2000s the design had matured into a common drive module paired with interchangeable mission modules, protected by scalable armour packages and offering capable off-road performance through 8x8 all-wheel drive and independent suspension. France departed the project, Britain flirted with it, but Germany and the Netherlands carried the project forward through ARTEC GmbH, fielding Boxer variants for command, ambulance, repair, recovery, protected mobility, and later reconnaissance and direct-fire roles.
Britain was involved in the early years of the programme but withdrew in 2003 to pursue the FRES (Future Rapid Effect System) initiative, seeking both wheeled utility vehicles and tracked specialist vehicles. FRES ultimately faltered, and although some elements survived, such as what later became the Ajax, the UK twice moved away from Boxer before returning to it. The revived Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV) competition eventually identified Boxer as the preferred solution in 2019. This decision reflected both Boxer’s proven modularity and its operational record with other NATO nations. Entry into British service formally began after a 2019 order for 523 Boxer A3 vehicles across multiple variants. The first British-built Boxer prototype emerged in 2025, with production centred at facilities in Stockport and Telford and involving over 100 UK suppliers.
At DVD 2026, Moog and KNDS UK unveiled a new Boxer mission module fitted with Moog’s Reconfigurable Integrated-weapons Platform (RIwP) . This marked the first time the RIwP had been integrated onto the Boxer platform, with the system specifically presented as a potential solution to the British Army’s emerging short-range ground-based air-defence requirement. The module was assembled in only a matter of weeks by British engineers from Moog and KNDS UK, and Moog has stated that it intends to manufacture the system in Britain using a local supply chain should it be selected.
The RIwP is, as the name suggests, designed to reconfigurable and platform/weapon agnostic . Rather than building a turret around one particular weapon, the system can accommodate a wide variety of guns, missiles, rockets and other effectors. Moog lists options including Stinger, Coyote, APKWS, Hellfire and Javelin alongside a range of 25 and 30 mm cannon and machine guns. The system can also integrate radar, passive sensors, electronic warfare equipment and other C-UAS systems.
The configuration displayed at DVD 2026 is one that is yet to be seen mounted on a British platform, where Starstreaks and Martlets have historically been preferred. This DVD2026 configuration carries an XM914 30 mm cannon (capable of firing 30mm proximity fused ammunition), a four-round Stinger missile canister, and four four-round pods of 70 mm laser-guided rockets , giving it three distinct layers of direct and guided firepower.
In game, this would give Britain a unique, all-in-one layered defence SPAA option for higher tier line-ups. Perfect for the 10.3 SPAA gap.
Specifications
Spoiler
Chassis
Turret
Armament
Ammunition
Images
Sources
Spoiler
Moog Debuts RIwP® on Boxer for Air Defence Missions at DVD 2026
https://www.edrmagazine.eu/moog-debuts-riwp-on-boxer-for-air-defence-missions-at-dvd-2026
Moog and KNDS present Boxer with RIwP for British Army - Calibre Defence
Air defence turret shown on Boxer for the first time
Moog Unveils RIwP Air Defense Turret Mounted on Boxer 8x8 Armored Vehicle to Counter Drones
RIwP | Modular SHORAD & Counter‑UAS Weapon System
https://www.moog.com/content/dam/moog/literature/sdg/defense/moog-riwp-family-datasheet.pdf
