Bundeswehr gears up with new Boxer HWCs, eyes Wiesel replacement

The prototype of the Boxer HWC armored infantry fighting vehicle has been dispatched for testing to the Bundeswehr. Its mass production is slated to happen in Australia, with the 123 ordered vehicles aiming to replace the German army's existing but significantly lighter and smaller tracked Wiesel vehicles.

The Boxer HWC (Heavy Weapons Carrier) is based on the design of the Boxer CRV variant, which is a reconnaissance vehicle developed for Australia. Both these variants stem from the basic Boxer model, an armored personnel carrier that has been under development since the start of the century by Germany, the United Kingdom, and France.

However, the UK and France eventually pulled out of the development program, leading to the Boxer being jointly developed by Germany and the Netherlands. As an armored personnel carrier, it weighs about 55,000 pounds and has the potential to reach up to 88,000 pounds.

The foundational base model paved the way for the creation of specialized variants like the Boxer HWC, which is tailored for the roles of an infantry fighting vehicle and fire support vehicle.

In time, the Boxer HWCs will replace the Wiesel 1 and 2 vehicles currently in use by the Bundeswehr, also known as the world's smallest tanks. These light tracked vehicles were originally designed to suit the needs of airborne troops.

Presently, the Wiesel is utilized in various capabilities such as reconnaissance, anti-aircraft, tank destruction, or medical evacuation. Many of these roles are expected to be adopted by the more heavily armored, larger, and significantly better-armored Boxer HWC, which includes a Lance turret. This turret is similarly used on the tracked Puma and Lynx vehicles.

The turret contains a 30-mm automatic cannon Rheinmetall MK30-2 ABM and a coaxial machine gun. It can optionally be fitted with a Spike-LR anti-tank missile launcher and an additional remote-controlled module with a 12.7 mm caliber machine gun.