Ford GTK

GTK Boxer in the configuration infantry vehicle group

The Armored Transport vehicle, shortly GTK Boxer, is a standard developed by the ARTEC GmbH, headquartered in Munich armored transport. ARTEC (Armoured Vehicle Technology) is the development and production company, in which the German defense company Rheinmetall (64% of the shares) and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (36%) are involved. By 2003, the British company Alvis involved. Since July 2011, are the first five GTK Boxer the Bundeswehr in ISAF mission in Afghanistan.

In April 1998, agreed France, Germany and Great Britain, together to develop a four-wheel drive 8 × 8-wheeled vehicle. France withdrew a short time later from the collaboration back in order to develop the VBCI a private vehicle. In the same year, the German consortium built a 6 × 6-technology demonstrator, which was designed to test some properties of the proposed GTK and demonstrate. In 1999, the development agreement, which was an option has a first series production of 600 pieces from 2005 foresaw signed and the company ARTEC founded with its headquarters in Munich. The first of eight prototypes was completed in 2001. Then rose the Netherlands, with an order of 200 vehicles in the marketed under the product name Boxer program. There was a considerable setback in 2003 when Britain got out of the development. The vehicle should not be in the UK with the Future Rapid Effect System (FRES) konkurrieren.

Originally, the production of the series in 2004 should start. Because of the delays caused by the entry and exit of nations and technical modifications a start of production for 2008 was provided, but shifted again on September 2009. In a first Los approximately 272 GTK Boxer should in five versions for the Bundeswehr and 200 pieces in five versions be procured for the Dutch army. In October 2011 it was announced that there would be no second Lot will.

Saudi Arabia intends to create several hundred GTK Boxer. Whether an export taking place, decided by the Federal Security Council.

The vehicle has a modular design and consists of a propulsion module and a version-specific mission module. For driving module includes the chassis and the front housing with engine and driver’s compartment. The driver sits on the right and has a skylight and three angle mirror, the average can be replaced by a night vision device. Is the engine room that has a fire extinguishing system links next to the driver. Part of a central tire inflation system the standard. NBC protection is guaranteed. For the vehicle as much as possible, conventional components (commercial off-the-shelf) were used to reduce the cost.

Driving module and mission module are manufactured as housing with adapted armor. This construction permits in addition to a reduction of the infrared signature by an air gap between the ground and adaptation armor fast replacing damaged elements or adapting to the required level of protection.

The armor is made of made of steel armor basic armor and developed by IBD Deisenroth engineering composite armor AMAP (Advanced Modular Armour Protection), the shock-damped (mentioned with shock mounts rubber elements) is attached to the base armor. AMAP consists of a carrier layer (backing), the bonded ceramic layer and a cover layer, and is a further development of the Mexaspanzerung. The interior of the boxer is with fabric mats (Spall liner, AMAP-L) lined fabric of high tenacity fibers such as aramid (Kevlar) to reduce the fragment cone during penetration of the armor or to prevent completely. The ballistic protection (AMAP-B) protects the crew against bombardment with medium calibers, as well as against the influence of artillery splinters (155 millimeters) and bomblets and holds in accordance with manufacturer also several hits in the same place standing. In addition, the Boxer has a mine protection (AMAP-M and AMAP-IED), which meets the requirement of the 4569 Class IIIb according to STANAG, which corresponds to an explosive force of eight kilograms of TNT.

In the German version, the vehicle is equipped with an electric kettle and a field toilet.

To the rear of a mission module is placed, which has a passage to the driver’s compartment and a gastight seal therewith. This mission module can be replaced within an hour by another and weigh up to eight tons. The various modules have a NBC overpressure. The following lists the different versions and their quantity ordered:

The version with group transport module has a rear ramp and can accommodate eight soldiers. On the front part of the roof module is a weapon station, which can be equipped with grenade launchers HK GMW or the machine gun Browning M2. For use in Afghanistan, the boxer be upgraded to version A1. This includes not only the ISAF camouflage an additional armor and increased by 30 cm weapon system to better effect.

Germany Germany: 72 Netherlands Netherlands: 58

For the GTK Boxer, two different mission modules for ambulances are in development. The ambulances can be fitted with up to seven seats for the wounded or with three wearing. The variant for the Bundeswehr is called Heavy protected medical motor vehicle (SgSanKfz) and are developed under the auspices of Krauss-Maffei Wegmann. The variant of the Dutch armed forces is developed by Rheinmetall Netherlands and as Ambulance Vehicle referred to.

Germany Germany: 65 Netherlands Netherlands: 55

The guide vehicles (Command Post Vehicle) are occupied by a five-man crew.

The pioneer version (Armoured Engineer Vehicle Group) transports a six-member Armoured Engineer Group with equipment.

The transport vehicle version (Cargo Vehicle) only has seats for driver and commander. The commander uses the weapons station in an emergency. Up to two tons of payload to be carried.

This version is a combination of transport and guide vehicle. It can carry a three-member staff, 1.5 tons of cargo or a stretcher.

Germany Germany: 10 Netherlands Netherlands: 8

The driving educational (Driver Training Vehicle) of the GTK Boxer with cabin.

Equipped with the Lance Tower presented at Eurosatory 2010 Rheinmetall their version of a Radschð´º¥npanzers. The tower is equipped with the MK30-2/ABM and a machine gun. The crew consists of the driver and two soldiers in the tower, the Absitzstå³«e is six man. In May 2012, Rheinmetall led the fully functional prototype in testing center in Unterluess potential customers. The defense company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann showed a deviation Version with Wi-tower and a crew of eight men Absitzstå³«e.

The GTK Boxer is by far the largest and heaviest car in its class. An air transport in a Hercules C-130 is thus not possible. For the vehicle, at least one Airbus A400M strategic airlift loading for is needed.

On 17 February 2006 ARTEC gave the production price of the boxer known, which was however rejected by the Netherlands and Germany as being too high and unacceptable. Due to the importance of the bi-national program for the industry, however, Germany would undertake further price negotiations, while the Netherlands’s Information Group attracted a retreat and a new tender in consideration in a report by Jane. This project has not been implemented. End of June 2006, the Dutch Parliament decided to continue the program and granted at the same time spending for 200 cars.

According to a report in the newspaper, The world of 25 August 2006 expects the German Ministry of Defense at a cost of 891 million euros for the 272 Boxer with which the Bundeswehr is to be equipped.

On 3 December 2006, the German Bundestag approved the procurement of a total of 272 GTK Boxer. The contract was signed in the Bernard barracks in Amersfoort, Holland, on 19 December 2006.

After an exit from the program, the Ministry of Defence had the GTK Boxer pulled back into the shortlist. So took the car next to the piranha of Mowag and the Vehicle of Blindé¡¤e Combat d’Infanterie from Giat on the comparison test on the Future Rapid Effect System part. The decision, which was initially announced for November 2007, but was taken by the new British defense minister until May 2008, was made in favor of the Piranha from.

On 23 September 2009 the first production car from Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall to the OCCAR and the Federal Office for Defence Technology and Procurement was delivered, where the vehicle has been tested up to its commissioning in March 2011 under operating conditions.

On 3 March 2011 the German Army announced that the first boxer has arrived at the Battalion 292 and be prepared for the mission in Afghanistan. Also at the Mountaineer Brigade first 23 vehicles were delivered. On 22 July 2011, the first five boxers were transferred to the A1 version to Afghanistan. They are there since mid-August 2011 in the area of ??Mazar-e Sharif, and by mid-June 2013 at Observation Post North (North OP) in the province of Baghlan as Supplement to the Fuchs armored transport used.

Troop trials: APE | Goliath Jagdwagen (0.25 gl tender truck 4 × 4) | Porsche Jagdwagen (0.25 gl tender truck 4 × 4) | Special Car 4 (TM-170) (only for testing, not realized) | Panzerspå©·agen Zobel (Project study on fennec)

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Makes

Ford GTK