Rheinmetall Defence Australia has released a video on YouTube on October 11, 2020, showing the Block 1 Boxer CRV (Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle) for the Australian Army conducting factory trial tests.
In September 2019, Rheinmetall Defence Australia has delivered the first Boxer combat reconnaissance vehicle (CRV) to the Australian Government. Australia has signed contracts with Rheinmetall Defence Australia to deliver and support 211 Boxer 8x8 Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles (CRV) for the Australian Army.
The Boxer CRV has been designed to operate in a range of environments, from regional stability missions through to high-threat operations against adversaries. The high levels of protection, firepower and mobility provided by the vehicles will enable sustained operations, varying from peacekeeping to close combat.
The Boxer CRV will replace the ASLAV (Australian Light Armored Vehicle) which in service with the Australian army since 1995. It is an eight-wheeled amphibious armored reconnaissance vehicle used by the Australian Army. It was built by General Dynamics Land Systems Canada and developed from the Canadian Army's LAV-25 and Bison armored fighting vehicles.
The Boxer CRV is based on the German Boxer, an 8x8 multirole armored vehicle using a modular design consisting of two key elements including the platform/drive-line and the removable mission modules. The mission module is a key (and unique) feature of Boxer, it allows the vehicle to be rapidly changed to meet different operational requirements. Boxer mission modules are pod-like units that are fitted to drive modules to form a complete mission variant vehicle. Mission modules are attached by four points and can be swapped within an hour under field conditions.
According to the manufacturer, the Boxer hull will withstand anti-personnel and large anti-tank mines of an undisclosed type under the wheel, platform or side attack. It has previously been stated that Boxer's baseline armor is all-round resistant to 14.5 mm armor-piercing ammunition in accordance with STANAG 4569 Level 4.
The Boxer CRV for the Australian Army is fitted with a two-man turret armed with the Mauser/Rheinmetall MK30-2/ABM (Air Burst Ammunition) dual-feed automatic 30mm cannon and 7.62mm coaxial machine gun supported by advanced sensors and sighting systems. The Lance turret is able to engage land targets with precision up to 3,000m and has the true hunter-killer capability. The turret will be also fitted with launchers able to fire the Spike LR2 Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM).