Through its social media, the Special Training Command announced last Wednesday that crews of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have begun their training with the new 8×8 Boxer armored personnel carriers (VCBR) in Germany, a country that committed in January to transferring a batch of nine units as part of a military assistance package. According to reports, these are driving instruction activities carried out within the framework of the European Union Military Assistance Mission in Support of Ukraine (EUMAM UA), aimed at ensuring that Kyiv’s personnel are capable of operating the vehicle in its various configurations.
Expanding on the details based on the published multimedia material, it can be confirmed that the Ukrainian crews are using Boxer platforms in their Driver Training Vehicle (DTV) variant, which are designed to simulate as faithfully as possible the characteristics and performance of a combat-deployed variant. However, each unit differs from the latter by including a Driver Training Module integrated into the standard Driving Module, in addition to a glazed cabin on top of the vehicle that allows the instructor to easily monitor how the Boxer is being maneuvered and to intervene in the systems if necessary.
In technical terms, the performance of the Boxer DTV maintains a high degree of similarity with its currently operational variants. In brief review, it should be noted that each unit is powered by an MTU V8 199TE20/21 engine generating up to 816 HP, with an estimated range of around 1,000 kilometers and capable of reaching maximum speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour. The vehicle is also able to overcome straight slopes of up to 60% and lateral ones of up to 30%, as well as cross trenches up to 2 meters wide and turn within a radius of 7.5 meters with skid steering. As for its dimensions, it measures 7.93 meters in length, 2.99 meters in width, and 3.30 meters in height, containing the 38.5 tons it weighs.
Furthermore, it is worth highlighting that this training conducted on German soil will not only enable Ukrainian personnel to operate the Boxer vehicles in the RCT30 configuration promised by Berlin, but will also help them handle the RCH 155 artillery systems, which use the Boxer platform to provide the 155mm/L52 gun with enhanced mobility. This is a platform particularly effective for missions requiring highly mobile indirect fire, standing out for its firing range of up to 50 kilometers (depending on the ammunition used), along with a high degree of automation that allows it to be operated by only two artillerymen.
This is no minor fact, considering that Germany has already committed to sending a total of 54 units of this artillery system to its Ukrainian partner, with the first delivered in January of this year. Breaking down this figure, the German government pledged the fleet in three separate batches, with announcements in 2022 and 2024; each for 18 units. In order to replenish and strengthen the inventories of its own artillery corps, Germany also announced its intention to acquire a total of 80 new RCH 155 systems, financed through the Bundeswehr’s Special Fund.
Image credits: @STC_EUMAM_UA on X
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