Australian Army personnel have started training on the new Boxer 8×8 combat reconnaissance vehicles (CRV) that have started arriving in Australia.
Soldiers from the 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment (Queensland Mounted Infantry) took the first driver training conversion course between Gallipoli Barracks, Wide Bay Training Area, and Greenbank Training Area in South East Queensland. The course involved theory lessons on maintenance, safe driving on civilian roads, and navigating challenging terrain they might face on the battlefield.
The training milestone is part of the defense ministry’s LAND 400 Phase 2 program and follows the delivery of a total of five vehicles so far, with another arrival scheduled by the end of the year.
Australia is buying a total of 211 new Boxer 8×8 CRVs from German defense contractor Rheinmetall. The Boxer will replace light armored vehicles currently in service.
“Defence has continued recruiting and training personnel under COVID-safe conditions to meet our force generation requirements to continue defending the nation and its interests,” defense minister Linda Reynolds said.
The defense ministry said it worked with Rheinmetall Defence Australia to implement the necessary changes to ensure the training could be conducted safely.
Rheinmetall is assembling early vehicles in Germany but will base its Australian and New Zealand headquarters as well as its manufacturing hub in South East Queensland as part of technology transfer activities. A resident project office has been established in Hamburg, Germany, to support the initial delivery of the capability. These vehicles will be shipped to Australia for final assembly. After this initial phase, vehicles will be fully assembled in Australia.
Australian Boxers will be equipped with the Rafael-developed Spike LR anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) system, Kongsberg-delivered RWS for Block I vehicles and EOS-developed RWS for Block II.
