The British Mechanised Infantry Vehicle was designed with capacity for future upgrades including to its remote weapon station, though no decision has been taken to replace the current system, according to an answer given in Parliament.
Ben Obese-Jecty, the Conservative member for Huntingdon, asked the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he had made of the potential merits of upgrading from the Kongsberg RS4 to the Kongsberg RS6 remote weapon station on Boxer.
Luke Pollard, the Minister of State for Defence, said: “The United Kingdom Mechanised Infantry Vehicle was designed with capacity for future upgrades, including to its Remote Weapon Station. The Army continues to assess capability, priority and affordability options across the Mechanised Infantry Vehicle Programme and wider Armoured Fighting Vehicle fleet. No decision has currently been taken to upgrade the current Remote Weapon System.”
Boxer entered British service with the Kongsberg Protector RS4, a stabilised mount carrying a 7.62mm or 12.7mm machine gun with a day and thermal sight, operated from inside the vehicle. The RS6 is a heavier station in the same family, rated to carry a 30mm cannon or a 40mm grenade launcher along with anti-tank missiles, and Kongsberg has marketed it to armies wanting a protected weapon fit without the cost and weight of a full turret.
Australia selected the RS6 for its own Boxer order under Land 400 Phase 2, mounting a 30mm turret on its reconnaissance variants, and Germany has fitted heavier stations and turrets to Boxers for several customers.
Well it seems good to have the option. That is sensible.
I expect there are situations where one option is better than the other.
Flexibility is king you would think.
Seems a no brainer for some of the fleet at least.
Probably no money.
I’d like to know where the 2 billion cut from the Boxer budget has gone. It’s being said it’s not being reprioritised on GBAD, Patria, which 2 billion could by thousands, more artillery, much needed firepower on Boxer or other pressing kit, but just removed.
I didn’t expect it to go to GBAD but I was expecting it to go to Patria. That kind of money could have bought a couple of thousand Patria 6X6 and really changed the make up of the force like the Germans have done.
My guess would be that it’s gone as part of departmental ‘savings’ that had to be found. It probably went in to the bottomless pit that is the national pension due to higher than expected inflation.