Second time lucky as Slovenia finally signs for Boxer
Slovenia has ordered 45 Boxer 8x8 wheeled armoured vehicles. (Photo: ARTEC)
After a previous abortive attempt to procure Boxer 8x8s, Slovenia has now placed an order for 45 vehicles via OCCAR.
The Slovenian MoD has ordered 45 Boxer 8x8 wheeled armoured vehicles via European procurement agency OCCAR, manufacturer ARTEC announced on 17 May.
ARTEC (a consortium comprising Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall) will deliver four variants of the modular Boxer vehicle to Slovenia from 2024 to 2026 under a €281.5 million ($295 million) contract.
Neither consortium member identified which variants are being provided, although Shephard previously reported that Slovenia was considering the 120mm mortar carrier configuration in addition to a 48-vehicle Boxer order that was postponed in January 2019.
However, in September 2020 the Defence Committee of the Slovenian National Assembly approved a €780 million fund to improve and modernise the national armed forces from 2021 to 2026.
According to Shephard Defence Insight, Slovenia may require a second batch of 45 vehicles.
The Boxer procurement programme is expected to involve the Slovenian defence industry, potentially with the integration of the Mangart 300 unmanned turret developed by a consortium of Slovenian companies led by Valhalla.
According to ARTEC, Slovenia is the sixth country to join the Boxer programme alongside Australia, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands and the UK.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
![UK fires Archer for first time in live-fire exercise]()
UK fires Archer for first time in live-fire exercise
Exercise Dynamic Front 25 is part of a series of NATO exercises that will run until 26 November.
-
![CV90 delivery to Slovakia imminent]()
CV90 delivery to Slovakia imminent
Slovakia is undergoing a radical refresh of its equipment, like many central and eastern European countries, and the arrival of new vehicles will form a substantial part of this.
-
![Mortar mobility: Patria’s TREMOS takes aim at the modern battlespace]()
Mortar mobility: Patria’s TREMOS takes aim at the modern battlespace
In conversation... Patria’s Lauri Pauniaho talks to Shephard's Gerrard Cowan about how high mobility levels are essential for mortar systems in the face of modern counter-battery fire, and how a new platform-agnostic module can combine existing vehicles and mortar barrels into a cost-effective new weapon system.
