On August 7th, 2026, Germany and the Netherlands committed to procure 69 Boxer Remote Controlled Turret (RCT30) in addition to the order already placed in 2025. The procurement was commissioned by the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) to ARTEC, the joint venture of KNDS Deutschland and Rheinmetall. The order is part of the 2025 framework contract for 222 systems and was exercised through the option mechanism, enabling a faster procurement. It is an ongoing case of joint procurement that Finabel should monitor as a model for promoting interoperability through common platforms among European land forces.
Context
The acquisition of the Boxer RCT30 reflects a broader commitment of the German and Dutch Ministries of Defence to renovate outdated military technologies. Specifically, the rearmament of conventional weapons and systems, such as armoured vehicles, signals that these systems remain central in modern warfare compared to Emerging and Disruptive Technologies (EDTs). As stated by the German Minister of Defence, EDTs cannot yet guarantee short-term security, nor can they fully operate by 2029. In Germany, the acquisition of the RCT30 has to be understood in the context of the Medium Forces, which constitute a category of highly mobile land forces operating alongside heavy armoured forces and light infantry. It also falls under the Arminius programme, Germany’s large-scale plan to procure 1,800 new Boxer vehicles in order to strengthen the Armed Forces.
The Development
The August 2026 procurement of 69 Boxer RCT30 was exercised through an option mechanism under the 2025 contract, which initially delivered 150 vehicles to Germany and 72 to the Netherlands. This option expands the initial procurement from 222 to 291 systems, with 35 new vehicles for the German side and 34 for the Dutch side. The Boxer RCT30 is developed by KNDS and is produced by ARTEC GmbH, a joint venture of KNDS Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH, and Rheinmetall Defence Nederland B.V. OCCAR, a European procurement agency that manages collaborative weapons programmes, placed the order directly with ARTEC as its primary industry partner. The delivery of the additional 69 Boxers is expected between 2032 and 2033.
ARTEC had outlined 31 different Boxer mission model configurations. The RCT30 is the Boxer’s Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) variant with a remote-controlled turret. This design is based on the Boxer’s wheeled chassis and the Puma infantry fighting vehicle’s 30mm turret. The vehicle incorporates a range of capabilities, including counter-drone (C-UAS) and counter-aircraft systems. It also integrates MELLS anti-tank guided missile systems.
Significance
The successful acquisition of an additional 69 Boxers through OCCAR demonstrates that effective joint procurement should operate through a standing, unified acquisition body. Since its inception in 1998, OCCAR’s objective has been to monitor, facilitate and support cooperative armament opportunities among its Member States. To date, OCCAR has placed more than 1,600 Boxer vehicles in the Netherlands, Germany, Lithuania and the United Kingdom. By contrast, the EU’s instruments, including the European Defence Industry Reinforcement through Common Act (EDIRPA), the European Defence Industrial Programme (EDIP), and Security Action for Europe (SAFE), remain grant-based incentives rather than a unified acquisition body. Despite the high levels of defence spending within the EU, defence cooperation remains low due to differing threat perceptions, industrial competition, and governance complexity. OCCAR mitigates these frictions by harmonising requirements and funding prior to contract signing. The EU’s instruments provide funding to incentivise joint procurement, but they do not assume responsibility for contracting, thereby leaving gaps in coordination and implementation.
Additionally, this joint procurement case directly incentivises interoperability between land forces. The acquisition of RCT30 by the German and Dutch armies signals the willingness to standardise equipment and strengthen collective deterrence. Pooled orders standardise equipment itself. OCCAR’s harmonised requirements mean that Dutch and German RCT30s operate near-identical vehicles, facilitating training and logistics. The RCT30’s interoperable capabilities are further enhanced through the integration of a command-and-control system. Equipped with the latest Command, Control, Communication, Computer, and Intelligence (C4I) capabilities, the Boxer RCT30 can be fully integrated into the existing battlefield management system. The platform shows that emerging technologies, including AI and CUAS capabilities, will not replace conventional weapons, but rather strengthen them. This position echoes German Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius’ response to criticisms over his resistance to reroute defence funding toward robotics, AI, and drones. He argued that while these technologies play a crucial role in modern warfare, they will not be the only factor in future conflict and the central concern is how they will be complemented by conventional technologies.
About the author
Sveva Musumeci is a Security and Defence Junior Researcher at Finabel.