MTL Advanced steels itself for UK Boxer contract
MTL Advanced has been selected to provide steel for Boxer armoured vehicles, pictured above in its ambulance configuration. (Photo: WFEL)
MTL Advanced has been chosen to supply armoured steel for the production of the UK MoD’s Boxer Armoured Vehicle Programme, specifically, the steel will be used in the Boxer hull assembly.
The contract was jointly awarded by WFEL and parent company KMW. The value and timeframe of the contract have not been disclosed – other than it being a multi-million pound and multi-year contract.
MTL Advanced has invested in excess of £2 million in new capital equipment to help support this project and meet increased demand.
This is the latest sub-contract to be awarded by WFEL under the $2.3 billion contract signed in November 2019 between Artec and the UK MoD.
Artec is the joint venture between KMW and Rheinmetall which was contracted to deliver over 500 Boxer vehicles to the British Army.
According to Shephard Defence Insight, the Boxer was originally developed during the 1990s; however, the UK left the programme in 2003.
The nation later announced in 2018 that it would re-join the Boxer programme and pursue a sole-source acquisition of the 8x8 vehicle.
The arrival of the Boxer would be a welcome addition to the British Army, as it has seen recent setbacks with other armoured vehicle programmes such as the Ajax.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
British Army fires Javelin from Boxer as Australia set for lightweight launchers
Australia has received approval to buy Javelin Lightweight Command Launch Units (LwCLU) on the same day as the British Army announced the first firing from a Boxer armoured vehicle, a sign of the continuing interest in the weapon. Billons-of-dollars of Javelin missiles and systems have been ordered in the past two years.
-
Lockheed picks Australian site for GMLRS support and possible missile manufacture
A final decision on the siting of an Australian Weapons Manufacturing Complex (AMWC), which will produce all-up GMLRS (Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System) rounds, will be made by the Australian Department of Defence (DoD).
-
Raytheon and Diehl Defence sign deal to co-produce Stinger missiles in Europe
An agreement has been signed that will extend Stinger missile system production to Europe with Diehl Defence currently looking at manufacturing locations.
-
Lockheed Martin wins deals for missiles and systems worth $5 billion
There continues to be an insatiable desire for air-defence and air-launched missiles and systems in the US and worldwide. Lockheed Martin’s latest deals reinforce the demand and highlight the supply chain challenge for manufacturing solid rocket motors.
-
Bahrain approved for $500 million HIMARS order as production surges
Lockheed Martin’s M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) is being widely ordered and deployed. The company has been working to ramp up production while continuing work to design and produce more potent missiles.