The multirole armored vehicle (GTK) by the name of Boxer is a heavy-load all-terrain and highly mobile armored transport vehicle which is to replace the M113 APC and Fuchs ATV in the forces. It is air-transportable in the new Airbus A400M transport aircraft, offering maximum passenger protection as currently possible against firing as well as IEDs and mines which are to be expected during operations abroad.
In February 1990 the national tactical concept for an MRAV was issued. Until 1998, a German-British-French joint project had developed.
In 1998, the German GTK working group (ARGEGTK) produced a first six-wheel prototype (6x6) as a technology demonstrator at its own expense.
After the French partner withdrew from the project in autumn 1999 the Netherlands joined the project in the year 2001. The project has been continued bi-nationally with the Netherlands since 2003.
The international program office OCCAR (Organisme Conjointe de Coopération en matière d’Armement) has been responsible for the Customer program management since the year 2000.
Since 1999 the international consortium of companies ARTEC GmbH (ARmoured vehicle Technology) is the Customer, consisting today of Krauss-Maffei-Wegmann and Rheinmetall Defence. Alvis Ltd. was also part of the consortium until Great Britain withdrew from the program in 2003.
The technological leap regarding the chassis achieved for the 30-ton EXF (8x8) experimental vehicle which was developed and produced by Mercedes-Benz under the authority of the FMOD until 1986 (this vehicle is also an asset at the Scientific Collection of Defense Engineering Specimens (WTS)) was incorporated in GTK development.
The vehicle body is modular and consists of a driving module and a mission module adapted to the actual goal of the mission.
The following types will be used in the Bundeswehr:
- Medical vehicle (sgSanKfz)
- Driver training vehicle (FahrSFzg)
For demonstration and comparison purposes the displayed vehicle shows the three-color camouflage paint for Central Europe on the right and rear and the current camouflage paint for operations in Afghanistan on the left, front and roof of the vehicle.
