As part of the UK Boxer Mechanised Infantry Vehicle Programme for the British Army, KMW and WFEL have signed a contract with AeroGlow International for the supply of the latest HaLO Vehicle Egress Lighting Systems.
According to the firm:
“This contract is for the delivery of bespoke HaLO systems, with deliveries commencing in 2021 and running through to 2031. The awarding of this sub-contract to a UK SME demonstrates the commitment to source 60% by value of the Boxer contract from within the UK, protecting sovereign engineering and manufacturing skills and ensuring that the vehicles remain supported through their 30-year operational life.
Emergency lighting systems have been recognised as safety critical for the Boxer vehicles and Salisbury-based AeroGlow says that having the HaLO system fitted to Boxer will ensure the mitigation of drowning and egress risks for British military personnel for the foreseeable future. The emergency lighting systems will be integrated into the Boxer vehicles by WFEL at their new, state-of-the-art Boxer MIV manufacturing facility in Stockport.
The proven AeroGlow LED escape lighting system will guide Boxer occupants to an exit as quickly as possible should the vehicle suffer a traumatic event – such as damage by a blast, roll over or being submerged in water – and the soldiers inside need to get out fast.”
AeroGlow Business Development Director, Keith White, commented:
“We are delighted that the latest version of HaLO featuring our Capacitor Pack power supply has been chosen for the Boxer platform. With the contract with KMW and WFEL set to run for 10 years, this ensures the employment of our staff and our UK suppliers’ staff for the long term.”
Seems a bit unnecessary to point to where the back door is?
How many Boxers are we buying? I understand the initial order was to replace FV432/Bulldog/SAXON (even though the latter were sold off years ago) and the further order is to replace all Warriors as they depart service (hopefully they will all have cannons in a turret?)
Its emergency lighting, if the power fails you can still see the exit.
Yep, I got that. We never had need of emergency lighting in AFVs before – its a smallish interior, compared to an airliner fuselage.
We always knew the back door was at the back of the crew compartment – the clue is in the name. The guys near the door open the door – simples.
Maybe lessons learnt in combat see a need for emergency lighting there have been cases of armoured vehicles rolling down mountain sides and off bridges tipping over you can get very disoriented possibly full of smoke
There was an incident in Afghanistan in which soldiers drowned in an overturned AFV: Improved emergency lighting was one of the coroner’s recommendations
That’s what I was going to mention, as the wagon went into the river and upside down. Absolute confusion, as anyone who has ever done the helicopter dunker can confirm.
I think everything is up in the air till the Ajax debarcle is sorted. As lots of alternative off the shelf replacements are available you want to replace warrior with a similar capability and not a wheeled one. Fingers crossed Ajax can be resolved as billions already spent. And now they have been given proper leadership on the project and outside help to resolve the issues.
Thanks Mark. I don’t see the linkage between Boxer procurement and the Ajax debacle – please explain. No-one is suggesting that some sort of recce variant of Boxer replace Ajax if Ajax fails.
Surely you know that WCSP has been scrapped and that the Government wants instead to buy Boxers – a poor idea – it is likely to be more costly and does not provide as good a capability (poorer mobility and firepower and possibly less armour protection).
What is the outside help to resolve the Ajax issues?
You’d be surprised how disorienting rolling over multiple times in the dark can be, especially if you then need to get out at speed when the cab is filling with water. These lights and little similar tweaks come from a lot of hard learning and can make the difference.
Hi Graham, when you’re downside up and the hull is filling with muddy water I’d love to know where the back door is. These lighting systems are also around every egress point on the vehicle and come on automatically when water or a roll over / blast is detected.
cheers
OK, its good to have safety features. Fair point.
Having done the Mastiff roll over simulator at Bastion, the lighting will be very welcome. When its dark and the vehicle rolls over, you do become very disorientated, especially if you are unfamiliar with the vehicle.
Thanks Daveyb. Fair point.
I’m only aware of the 500 or so order Graham. Not a further one.
I believe there are options for up to 1500 vehicles. but whether that is taken up who knows.
I think if that option is taken up, it’ll be an admission in all but name that the MoD has given up on tracks. Can’t see how they could get a commitment to that plus Warrior replacement/Ajax sorted out too.
Would be interesting to see if more modules were taken up like SPH, AT/AA etc. Might even be the better choice?
Not totally. CR3 is tracked, of course. If Ajax works out, that is tracked. AS90 is tracked, and its replacement might be.
Sorry Graham, I thought I had been clear enough. I meant in regards to a new IFV (if there will be one) replacing Warrior and whatever is happening with Ajax, plus the AS90 replacement now you mention it.
A near enough total shift to wheels, excluding tanks obviously, so akin to the French. Boxer is, what, a few million apiece? If the option for the other 1k or so are taken, I couldn’t see how that wouldn’t kill tracked vehicle capability almost completely.
Is that clearer on what I meant?
Daniele,
Boxer replaces the MRAV programme as I understand (is it now called MIV?) thus replacing 432/Bulldog/Saxon – which is what this article is all about. So that is 500 units? Sounds more than I expected.
A second order won’t have gone in yet but surely will do soon as the Government has decided to replace Warrior by Boxer instead of pursuing WCSP, as per the Spring 2021 Defence Review. I think its a crazy idea.
Hi Graham. I hope you’re correct. However. Warrior WCSP was to form 4 battalions, in 2 Brigades. Alongside them Boxer was to form 4 battalions, also in 2 Brigades. “Strike Brigades” Now Warrior is going the army will be left with just 2 heavy brigades, with 4 Mechanized battalions of Boxer. I recall the order is for 508. They will also furnish regiments of the CS and CSS arms as well as the 4 battalions. In the details hinted at so far of the Reorg being announced shortly the other “brigades” will apparently be light mechanized with Foxhound / Jackal… Read more »
This is complicated but I think that I have unravelled the story. When UK joined the original Franco-German (aka ARTEC) Boxer programme in 1996 it was called MRAV and was to replace 430s & Saxon and a UK production run of 200 units was signed. Then we left the programme in July 2003 following the sharp(!) realisation that it was not C-130 transportable, with the less embarrassing excuse that we wanted to concentrate on FRES, which only produced Scout SV (later Ajax to replace Scimitar) and Scout Utility (cancelled but would have replaced 430s and non-Scimitar CVR(Ts)). In 2018 we… Read more »
That’s the point entirely! They bet big on Ajax when 3 Armoured Brigades and Warrior were the big thing. Tracks.
Now we are moving to wheels and the armour is withering away.
Its a complete shambles.
I WISH the British Army would decide a plan and stick to it.
Daniele, thought I would add my piece about your last point. We have traditionally been a maritime power – and I am fine that we should continue to be so – it makes sense as we are an island nation with most trade coming in by sea and that sea covers 70% of the planet’s surface. Traditionally the army was small and professional and was split between garrisoning the Empire and being launched by the navy as a BEF. The Empire bit has mostly gone (although there are some troops out at the BOTs – Cyprus SBAs, Falklands) but we… Read more »
Certainly not. I meant a land power concerning large numbers of Tanks and armoured divisions ala BAOR lining up alongside Poland and the US facing Russia.
I’m in agreement with the roles you list. Only a few of which require heavy brigades.
I see SF, Northern flank, RM, 16AA as more prominent, with extensive enablers to back them.
The very stuff we keep cutting.
To me Boxer looks like a very capable vehicle and, being in service with other armies, doesn’t carry the risk of a project like Ajax. Hopefully we will end up with a utility variant (to replace 432/Bulldog/Saxon) AND an IFV variant (to replace Warrior) with a 40mm turret.
George, nothing on the new Ranger cap badge and lineage. What do people think about the Peregrine Falcon cap badge. Looks a bit Action Man to me…
Think the powers that tested boxer have pointed out wheeled are far more capable now than people think, 80-90% of tracked capabilities. Can Ajax, sue the company for non fullfillment of contract and get some firepower on other boxer modules
The sooner we cancel Ajax and concentrate on vehicles expand production of Boxer variants the better. Another £5 billion of taxpayers money wasted.
I agree boxer may be big and not tracked but the ability to get it now and add modules to add capabilities is just worth it