NSPA supports the United Kingdom in acquiring 628 Boxer armoured vehicles, out of which five prototypes, that will be used for trials. This was the result of a decision taken in November 2022, when the Agency was tasked with contracting Millbrook Proving Ground to supply, within a tight timeframe, the location and facilities for acceptance activities by April 2023.
At the Boxer launch event, Mr Grant Pudlowski, part of the Boxer System Management Group (SMG) BOXER, represented the Agency and briefed the audience on how NSPA would support the UK’s Boxer fleet. He also explained how the Boxer SMG already provides In Service Support (ISS) for Germany, the Netherlands, and Lithuania, and how it can successfully use that extensive expertise to do the same for the United Kingdom.
During the first day of the event, the British Army soldiers had the opportunity to inspect the vehicles and to witness their capabilities on the test track and over various obstacles.
The second event day included presentations delivered by vehicle producer ARTEC (ARrmoured TEChnologies), OCCAR, and by representatives from the UK Ministry of Defence. During their interventions, speakers acknowledged that the first Boxer vehicles delivery to the United Kingdom was a significant milestone, regardless of the current challenges (COVID, supply chain, war in Ukraine).
Other briefings included that of Lt Col Damian Briggs-Wilson on how and why the UK would conduct trials, and that of Maj Mark Jeffery, Head of the Acceptance Team, on the detailed acceptance activities.
The Boxer vehicle in action generated positive feedback among the audience, which also included Canadian and Australian representatives.
The scope of NSPA’s support to land systems has gradually expanded over the years and now embraces the entire system life cycle management, from the initial acquisition support (including project definition and design), via production and in-service support (including supply, maintenance and engineering services) to the phase-out and demilitarization stages.
NSPA provides support to the different land systems through three Support Partnerships including the Boxer Support Partnership.
