OCCAR (Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation) has signed a new contract worth €4.5 billion to expand the BOXER armored vehicle program for Germany and the Netherlands, bringing the total investment in the program to over €10 billion. The agreement was formalized at OCCAR-EA headquarters in Bonn on October 17, 2025.
Under the new contract, 270 additional BOXER vehicles will be procured. For Germany, this includes new Driver Training Vehicles and Ambulance variants featuring upgraded command, control, communications, and visual systems. The German Ambulance fleet will also undergo modernization with advanced medical equipment to improve battlefield medical support.
A major development within the program is the creation of a new Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) variant known as SCHAKAL, jointly developed by Germany and the Netherlands. A total of 222 SCHAKAL IFVs will be produced, integrating the PUMA RCT30 turretequipped with a high-performance cannon and advanced optics onto the BOXER chassis. The new configuration aims to combine firepower, protection, and mobility within a single modular platform.The contracts also include provisions for initial in-service support and utilize the latest version of the BOXER drive module, which will serve as the standard configuration for all OCCAR BOXER member nations.
OCCAR manages the BOXER program on behalf of Germany, the Netherlands, Lithuania, and the United Kingdom, with ARTEC GmbH,a joint venture between Rheinmetall and KNDS serving as the prime contractor. Future phases will involve continued deliveries, as well as the introduction of additional variants and system upgrades currently under development.