Javelin integration gives UK Boxer anti-armour capability
The British Army Boxer mechanised infantry vehicle (MIV) has completed integration tests to equip and operate the Javelin anti-armour missile, following a three-week firing trial that took place at Salisbury Plain earlier in 2025.
Posting of the completion of firing trials on social media on 20 August, the British Army stated that the Javelin missile was integrated onto Kongsberg’s RS4 Remote Weapon Station as part of the wider comprehensive testing phase for the vehicle.
A total of five test fires were conducted during the three-week phase.
The Javelin trial forms part of a testing and demonstration phase for the vehicle, which has also included stowage and capacity, noise and vibration, electromagnetic compatibility testing, live crew clearance, fording trials, and battlefield mission simulations.
Initial operating capability (IOC) for Boxer in the British Army is planned for Q4 2025, although full operating capability (FOC) will not be reached until 2032.
The integration of Javelin on Boxer is a requirement on specific variants depending on role, with the capability likely to be considered for the infantry carrier role, of which 146 units will be produced.
Other variants include the command platform (212 units), specialist carrier (200 units), and ambulance (65 units).
Boxer vehicles are now being delivered to the British Army via production lines in Germany and the UK. The UK government stated in March that, despite “ongoing delays” to the Boxer programme caused by supply chain issues, up to 100 vehicles were expected to be delivered each year.
With FOC – effectively the completion of deliveries – not expected until 2032, it can be extrapolated that the UK government is planning on fewer than 100 Boxer MIVs arriving per year.
At a defence industry event in 2024, it was revealed that paperwork issues could delay the integration of boxer into service, specifically around a perceived need to rewrite operating manuals into English, rather than simply translate from existing foreign language versions.
Boxer is clearly being thought of as the British Army’s future modular armour platforms, with a range of other variants under development, including the RCH 155 self-propelled artillery (IOC ~2029), the Armoured Mortar Vehicle (AMV) platform, the SERPENS deep find radar platform, a ground-based air defence C-SAT variant (2032 IOC timeframe), and a TYRO combat support bridging vehicle.
The AMV variant has a development timeline for 2030, followed by 2031 for the SERPENS, and 2032 for the GBAD C-SAT variant. The TYRO timeline sees a rough development guide from 2029.
