Germany and the Netherlands have signed a 4.5-billion-euro ($5.25 billion) contract with a Rheinmetall–KNDS Deutschland joint venture to procure 270 Boxer armored vehicles through the Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation. Under the agreement, 198 vehicles will go to the German Armed Forces and 72 to the Dutch military.
Germany’s 3.4-billion-euro ($3.96 billion) order includes 150 infantry fighting vehicles, 10 driver training vehicles, and 38 ambulance variants, with deliveries planned between 2027 and 2031. The Netherlands is set to receive its first Boxer vehicles by the end of 2028. The deal also allows an option for an additional 248 vehicles — 200 for Germany and 48 for the Netherlands.
The contract introduces a Boxer infantry fighting vehicle variant called Schakal, jointly developed by both nations. The Schakal pairs the Boxer drive module with an unmanned Rheinmetall RCT30 turret, mounting a stabilized 30mm x 173mm/ABM machine gun capable of firing programmable air-burst ammunition to defeat small drones at ranges up to 1,500 meters (4,921 feet). For anti-tank missions, it carries two MELLS (Spike LR/Spike LR2) missiles. The system uses the latest Boxer drive module, set to become the standard for all OCCAR Boxer partner nations.
