IAV 2022: Germany orders prototype Boxers with Kongsberg Protector RWS

KMW signed a contract with Kongsberg in December for the Protector RS4 RWS for the German Joint Fire Support Team, schwer (heavy), programme. (Kongsberg)

The Bundeswehr has ordered two prototype Boxers fitted with Kongsberg's Protector RS4 remote weapon system (RWS) mounting a 50-cal machine gun, Janes learned at the International Armoured Vehicles (IAV) 2022 conference being held in London on 24–27 January.

Krauss-Maffei Wegmann signed the contract with Kongsberg in December for the Protector RS4 RWS for the German Joint Fire Support Team, schwer (heavy), programme, the Norwegian company announced in a press release on 22 January.

The contract includes the development and delivery of prototypes for trials and testing, to be followed by a serial production contract, with the installation of the RS4 RWS into a new mission module for the Boxer 8x8 armoured vehicle. The Bundeswehr plans to procure 21 Boxers with the RS4 RWS.

The new mission module will include the Thales Panoramic Above Armour Gimbal (PAAG) joint observation and surveillance system on an extendable arm integrated into a NATO Generic Vehicle Architecture in accordance with NATO Standardisation Agreement (STANAG) 4754, which is based on open standards to design and integrate multiple electronic sub-systems into military vehicles. The STANAG aims to create standards for land system vehicle architecture to make them more sustainable and have a longer lifespan.