Boxer: The Army's new mechanised infantry vehicle that punches above its weight

The Boxer is the British Army's new mechanised infantry platform, with more than 600 being brought in.

It is an eight-wheeled diesel-powered vehicle that can operate in all terrains and can be adapted to perform a number of roles on the battlefield due to its modular design.

The fully British-made vehicle takes on roles currently performed by the Warrior and Mastiff in service and will be the Army's primary mechanised infantry platform, working alongside Ajax and the Challenger 3 in Brigade Combat teams.

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Warrant Officer (Class Two) Sean Geoghegan of the Mercian Regiment said: "The Boxer is an eight-wheeled mechanised infantry platform and can carry up to eight personnel in the back. 

"Our weapon systems then, what we have is an RWS (Remote-Controlled Weapons System) on the top of the vehicle, which can mount out either the GPMG (General Purpose Machine Gun), HMG (Heavy Machine Gun), or GMG (Grenade Machine Gun) weapon systems on this platform, again giving the commanders more flexibility on firepower. 

"Integrated within the vehicle, we have a number of camera systems throughout the vehicle that could help us gain information from the outside of the platform and give us a ground awareness around the vehicle."

The Boxer is designed to be a highly adaptable platform that is capable of several roles.

Primarily it will be used to rapidly transport troops around the battle environment, but it has been manufactured to be a highly adaptable platform that can fulfil a number of jobs.

"The vehicle is modular in design, so what this means is we can remove the module off the back, which gives the commanders more flexibility when choosing from either an infantry carrier, a command variant, specialist carrier or an ambulance," WO2 Geoghegan added.

"This variant is an infantry-carrying variant and carries eight troops within the vehicle. 

"We also have a command variant, which carries four troops in the back as well as computers and screens on the platform."

The vehicle can operate in very challenging environments and is fitted with a Rolls-Royce MTU 8V 199 TE 21 engine.

WO2 Geoghegan said: "The vehicle is very good cross-country. It can go into eight-wheel drive and can conquer most off-road terrains.

"It's brilliant to drive – very similar to driving a lorry.

"If we do get a deflated tyre, we've got a system open self-inflate from inside the vehicle. However, if it's too much damage, what we can do is run flat so we can go quite a distance of slower speeds until we're in a safe area where we will then get the tyres replaced."