United Kingdom to Withdraw from the Boxer Multi Role Armored Vehicle Program

Released on Thursday, July 17, 2003

The British Ministry of Defense (MoD) has announced the withdrawal from the Boxer Multi Role Armored Vehicle (MRAV) program due to lessons learned during Operation Telic in Iraq (2003).

This decision was taken to meet the requirements for new security challenged identified in the latest Strategic Defense Review carried out by the United Kingdom MoD. The Boxer vehicle developed jointly between the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Germany will be replaced within the British Army by a new armored vehicle produced by Alvis Vickers plc and the Future Rapid Effect System (FRES).

The vehicle designed to replace the MRAV in the near term is named FCLV (Future Command and Liaison Vehicle). The FCLV will be a derivative of the Iveco 4x4 LMV (Light Multirole Vehicle) featuring air transportability, high mobility, and lightweight armor against small arms fire and mines for all-terrain scoot missions.

Alvis will install UK-made mission equipment comprising a weapon station, armor pack and communication systems.

About 500 7-ton MLV, Bristish designation for the Iveco LMV, vehicles will be delivered between 2006 and 2009 with an estimated cost of £200 million ($320 million).