First Fully UK-Built Boxer Armoured Vehicle Delivered to British Army for Training

The British Army has received its first fully built Boxer armoured vehicle produced in the UK, marking a major milestone in one of its most important modernisation programmes. Built by Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) at its Telford facility, the eight-wheeled, multi-role armoured vehicle has been delivered to the Armour Centre at Bovington Camp, where it will be used to train soldiers in driving, operating, and maintaining the platform.

The Boxer programme is part of a £5 billion investment to supply 623 vehicles in multiple variants, including troop carriers, command vehicles, ambulances, and specialist mission modules, to equip the Army’s future mechanised infantry units. Known for its modular design, high mobility, and enhanced protection, the Boxer is expected to become a core asset in the British Army’s future force.

About 75 percent of the vehicle’s components are sourced from within the UK, with production now fully underway at RBSL in Telford and WFEL in Stockport. Together, these facilities support around 400 direct jobs and more than 1,000 roles in the wider UK supply chain. While some early production will still take place in Germany, this will gradually shift entirely to the UK as domestic manufacturing capacity increases—part of the government’s drive to strengthen industrial resilience.

Defence Procurement Minister Maria Eagle described the programme as delivering “both cutting-edge capability for our soldiers and high-value industrial benefits at home.”

The Boxer project runs in parallel with two other major armoured vehicle initiatives: the procurement of 148 Challenger 3 main battle tanks and the Ajax family of tracked reconnaissance vehicles. Combined, these programmes are expected to create and sustain over 6,000 defence manufacturing jobs nationwide.

The arrival of the first UK-built Boxer at Bovington marks not only a leap forward in the Army’s operational capabilities but also a significant boost for the British defence industry.