British Army to get 100 extra Boxer armoured vehicles

The British Army is set to receive 100 extra Boxer vehicles, the Prime Minister has announced.

Boris Johnson made the announcement as UK-German production started in Telford, Stockport and Munich, and said the partnership between the two nations "offers reassurance to our people and the wider world" in "these difficult times".

"This joint programme will ensure our militaries have state-of-the-art equipment as the invasion of Ukraine shakes the very foundations of European peace and security," he said.

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The UK and Germany have worked closely on the Boxer programme, with Germany now boasting more than 400 of the vehicles.

The German military has had older variants of the vehicles in service for more than 10 years, including service in Afghanistan.

The modern, digital armoured vehicle can be used to transport troops to the frontline, but can also be quickly reconfigured to fulfill different roles on the battlefield.

Lieutenant General Sir Christopher Tickell, Deputy Chief of the General Staff, said the announcement of additional vehicles was "significant" for the Army.

Watch: Up close with the new Boxer bridging vehicle.

"Boxer will form the core of our modernised Armoured Brigade Combat Teams and it is great news for our service personnel getting more of these excellent platforms as part of delivering Future Soldier," he said.

The UK announced in 2018 it would re-join the Boxer programme in order to modernise its vehicle fleet and meet the Army's Mechanised Infantry Vehicle requirement.

Production of the Boxer for the British Army is under way with the first 117 vehicles being built on German production lines, while UK facilities ramp up for the remaining 506 and begin manufacturing.

The first vehicles will arrive in units from 2023.

Defence Procurement Minister Jeremy Quin said "the land equipment upgrade is a vital element of the Integrated Review, on which we continue to deliver".

"Doing so, alongside our German allies, creates opportunities for both our Armed Forces," he said.

UK production will be based in Telford, Shropshire, through Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL), and Stockport, Cheshire, through WFEL.