Germany and the Netherlands have awarded a €4.5 billion ($5.25 billion) contract to Artec GmbH—a joint venture between Rheinmetall and KNDS Deutschland—for the procurement of 270 Boxer armored vehicles. The deal, organized through the Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation (OCCAR), includes delivery of 198 vehicles to the German Armed Forces and 72 to the Dutch military. The German order, valued at €3.4 billion ($3.96 billion), encompasses 150 infantry fighting vehicles, 10 driver training vehicles, and 38 ambulances, with deliveries scheduled from 2027 through 2031. The Netherlands is set to receive its first Boxer systems by late 2028. Additionally, there is an option for up to 248 more vehicles: 200 for Germany and 48 for the Netherlands. Central to the contract is the Schakal infantry fighting vehicle, jointly developed by both nations. It integrates the Boxer drive module with an unmanned Rheinmetall RCT30 turret mounting a stabilized 30mm MK 30-2/ABM autocannon firing programmable airburst ammunition effective against small drones up to 1,500 meters. For anti-tank defense, the turret sports a launcher carrying two MELLS anti-tank guided missiles (Spike LR/Spike LR2). The Schakal utilizes the latest Boxer drive module variant, expected to become the standard platform for all OCCAR Boxer member nations.
