The European defense agency OCCAR has ordered 69 Boxer Schakal tracked infantry fighting vehicles from the main contractor for the Boxer, ARTEC, of which 35 are intended for the German Army and 34 for the Royal Netherlands Army. As Rheinmetall, one of the partners in the ARTEC joint venture, announced on 29 October, the activation of options entails a contract value in the mid three-digit million-euro range.
291 Boxer Schakal ordered
On 24 June 2026 the Budget Committee of the German Bundestag approved the exercise of the first tranche of the contractually agreed options for the Schakal IFV. The main contract awarded in October 2025 already covers 222 Schakal infantry fighting vehicles and provides an option for up to 200 more Schakals. With the first exercised option now, the number of Schakal IFVs to be delivered increases to 291 in total.
“The activation of further options for the Schakal confirms our customers’ confidence in this highly modern system,” said Dr. Björn Bernhard, head of the Rheinmetall Vehicle Systems division. “It also provides additional planning security for us as an industry and our suppliers. Together with our partners, we are making an important contribution to the modernization of European land forces and to strengthening Europe’s industrial capabilities.”
The first SPz Schakal is expected by the end of 2027. In advance, a serial prototype of the B0 vehicle module is to be delivered for qualification. After completing the integrated verification and serial release, production is to run from mid-2028 to mid-2031. The delivery of the vehicles now ordered will follow, unless production speed-ups have been agreed.
Schakal: Boxer with a remotely controlled PUMA turret
The infantry fighting vehicle, referred to by the Bundeswehr as “Schakal,” is based on the armored wheeled Boxer with the Future Common Drive Module B0 and is equipped with the unmanned RCT-30 turret, derived from the PUMA IFV. The armament includes a 30-mm autocannon that can engage targets while moving, the capability for drone and aircraft defense, and the integrated MELLS missile system for defense against battle tanks.
The vehicle accommodates six grenadiers and thus serves as the central weapons system for the grenadiers of the “Medium Forces” the German Army is currently building. The Medium Forces are thus enabled to traverse large distances autonomously in a short time.
The Boxer RCT 30 has now been contracted by four nations (Germany, the Netherlands, Ukraine, Qatar).
Boxer in European defense cooperation
The Germany-Netherlands OCCAR program underscores the capability of European defense cooperation and strengthens the European defense industry against foreign competition in the field of 8×8 vehicles, according to Rheinmetall. The German land-systems industry also benefits from it. Production of central assemblies and components is carried out at German sites of Rheinmetall, KNDS Deutschland, MTU, Hensoldt and many other small- and medium-sized champions in the national defense sector. The program strengthens the industrial base and secures long-term highly skilled jobs. In case of procurement of the Boxer large program “Arminius,” German industry has pledged a significantly accelerated delivery of the optionally ordered vehicles.
Author: Gerhard Heiming, Editor, Wehrwirtschaft
