Ukraine is likely to receive a Boxer wheeled infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) armed with a 30 mm cannon combat module from the German company KNDS.

This was reported by Hartpuntk.

This statement was made by KNDS Germany CEO Ralf Ketzel during the ceremony of handing over the first RCH-155 wheeled howitzer to Ukraine in Kassel.

During his speech at the ceremony, Ambassador of Ukraine to Germany Oleksii Makeiev said that the RCH-155 wheeled howitzer would be the first combat vehicle of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to be built on the basis of the Boxer infantry fighting vehicle. In addition, Ukraine will receive another system based on the Boxer called Kommandobegleitfahrzeug, which literally means “command escort vehicle.” It will be equipped with a 30 mm automatic cannon.

However, the details of what kind of vehicles these will be, in what quantity, and when they will be delivered to Ukraine remain unknown.

Possible candidates

According to the publication, these are likely to be vehicles equipped with the RCT30 remote-controlled combat module, which is also used in the Puma infantry fighting vehicle.

The Boxer RCT30 combat module combines the unmanned turret from KNDS Germany with the proven Boxer control module from ARTEC – a joint venture between Rheinmetall and KNDS Germany. The module is armed with the MK 30-2/ABM 30×173 mm stabilized automatic cannon from Rheinmetall. It provides accurate engagement of moving targets both on the ground and in motion.

The German army intends to purchase about 150 systems of this type, and the Netherlands – 72 systems.

The vehicle also has a landing compartment that can accommodate up to six fully equipped infantrymen. However, as the publication notes, the name “command support vehicle” may indicate that these combat vehicles will not be used as an infantry fighting vehicle, but can be used to protect the RCH 155 self-propelled howitzers from drones.

With the help of programmable munitions and a powerful set of sensors, the operator of the RCT30 module can intercept a drone in flight. This was successfully proven during tests in the spring of 2024.

The RCT30 provides an all-weather 360-degree circular view of the environment around the vehicle. The machine vision software integrated into the fire control system independently detects, captures and determines the distance of targets. All the operator has to do is aim and fire.

Detection of the drones outside the battlefield is also entirely the responsibility of the vehicle’s combat system. A network of passive sensors, including radio frequency and optical sensors, detects the appearance of drones and their direction, after which the panoramic sight automatically turns in that direction, which helps to assess the targets.

Another possible candidate would be the Boxer-based Skyranger 30 air defense system, similar to the one purchased by the German army. However, due to production problems, such vehicles will be delivered to the German army only in 2028.