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A mounted infantry regiment has test the firing capability of the vehicle’s 30mm armament.
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Personnel from the 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment (Queensland Mounted Infantry) (2/14LHR [QMI]) have conducted live-fire training with the Rheinmetall-built Boxer 8x8 combat reconnaissance vehicle (CRV), testing the vehicle’s 30mm turret at the Wide Bay Training Area in Queensland.
Lieutenant Stefano Rankin, who is helping manage the Army’s transition from the Australian Light Armoured Vehicle (ASLAV) to the Boxer CRV, lauded the new vehicle’s accuracy and lethality.
“To fire the turret, it’s quite different to what we are used to. It’s very digitised, as opposed to the ASLAV,” LT Rankin said.
“It is a very capable piece of equipment.”
LT Rankin said the fire-control system on the Boxer is “much more advanced” than the ASLAV.
“I managed to hit targets in excess of 2,500 metres,” he added.
The Boxer’s advanced sights reportedly sped up target identification and engagement, supported by accurate firepower.
“From the start — from zeroing straight through to engaging targets — you are almost guaranteed a first-round hit. It’s a significant advantage to the ASLAVs,” LT Rankin continued.
“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.”
Most of the live-fire was conducted from a static position, however, according to LT Rankin, firing on the move would not be an issue.
“The stabilisation system on the Boxer is very advanced,” he said.
“It has technology that calculates the movement of the vehicle to the target as well as the movement of the target to the vehicle.
“This enables us to get first-round hits almost all the time, even when on a battle run.”
Trooper Brett Ward noted the benefits of the live-fire exercise following weeks of theoretical training.
“It was extremely satisfying firing it after being in the classroom for weeks, so to get out here and live-fire it, to get rounds on targets, mostly first time, it’s extremely impressive,” he said.
“Just the incredible accuracy, even from the zeroing of the weapon, getting first-rounds hits with pinpoint accuracy, compared to the ASLAV, was really impressive.”
The first tranche of 25 Boxer CRVs were delivered to the Army in May under the $5.2 billion LAND 400 Phase 2 Mounted Combat Reconnaissance Capability project.
Rheinmetall has been tasked with developing a total of 211 Boxer vehicles in different versions, including 131 CRVs, replacing the ASLAV fleet.
The Boxer CRV is expected to achieve initial operational capability in the second quarter of 2022.
[Related: Rheinmetall delivers the first tranche of Boxer CRVs to Army]
Charbel Kadib
News Editor – Defence and Security, Momentum Media
Prior to joining the defence and aerospace team in 2020, Charbel was news editor of The Adviser and Mortgage Business, where he covered developments in the banking and financial services sector for three years. Charbel has a keen interest in geopolitics and international relations, graduating from the University of Notre Dame with a double major in politics and journalism. Charbel has also completed internships with The Australian Department of Communications and the Arts and public relations agency Fifty Acres.
