The accuracy and lethality of the Boxer 8×8 Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle (CRV) has impressed personnel on a turret conversion course. After several weeks of theory, members of the Australian Army 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment (Queensland Mounted Infantry) (2/14LHR [QMI]) travelled to the Wide Bay Training Area in late June for the live-fire component of the course, where they fired the main 30mm armament of the Boxer. The Boxer CRV will replace the ASLAV, the current reconnaissance platform, which has been in service with the Army since the 1990s.
Lieutenant Stefano Rankin was on the course to convert from the Australian Light Armoured Vehicle (ASLAV) to the Boxer CRV and said he was immediately impressed with the turret. “To fire the turret, it’s quite different to what we are used to. It’s very digitised, as opposed to the ASLAV. It is a very capable piece of equipment. The fire-control system on the Boxer is much more advanced than the ASLAV; it’s a more modern vehicle. I managed to hit targets in excess of 2500m,” Lieutenant Rankin said.
Members of 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment said the advanced sights on the Boxer combat reconnaissance vehicle sped up target identification and engagement. The most impressive part of the Boxer was the accuracy of the weapon system. From the start – from zeroing straight through to engaging targets – soldier almost guaranteed a first-round hit. It’s a significant advantage to the ASLAVs. The accuracy of the weapon system is phenomenal compared to the ASLAV, and you are just able to see targets more clearly through the advanced sighting system.”
The Boxer is a multirole armoured fighting vehicle designed by an international consortium to accomplish a number of operations through the use of installable mission modules. Boxer will replace the ageing ASLAV vehicles that have served with the Australian Army in East Timor, Afghanistan and Iraq. The Army will accept 133 reconnaissance variants of the Boxer, which will be equipped with Rheinmetall’s cutting-edge Lance 30mm automatic cannon turret system, amounts a number of other variants.
