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The armoured vehicles have taken part in an international warfighting exercise for the first time.
Two of the Australian Army’s Boxer combat reconnaissance vehicles (CRVs) have been deployed at Singapore’s Murai Urban training facility — put to the test for the first time in an overseas training ground.
The vehicles, which left Australian shores aboard HMAS Adelaide for Indo-Pacific Endeavour, were deployed as part of an exercise aimed at testing the integration of armour and infantry with the joint pre-landing force and the ground combat element.
Troop leader Captain Stefano Rankin said the training in Singapore provided personnel with a unique opportunity to train in unfamiliar terrain.
“It’s the first time the vehicles have been deployed overseas and it showcases our capacity to deploy for contingency reasons within our region.
“…It enables us to conduct a wide variety and an increased complexity of tasks and tests our ability to conduct activities in different regions around the world,” he said.
AAF’s Commander Landing Forces, Colonel Doug Pashley, welcomed the opportunity to train abroad.
“These are the world’s best platforms, and our people are fortunate to have the unique opportunity to work with the Boxers in Singapore to give them another perspective and broader hands-on training,” COL Pashley said.
The Boxer CRV’s first international deployment comes just months after the Rheinmetall-built platform — procured under LAND 400 Phase 2 — achieved initial operating capability (IOC).
This followed a test and evaluation process, which included deploying the Boxer during Exercise Sea Raider.
Rheinmetall has been tasked with delivering a total of 211 Boxer CRVs and a further 490 trucks from the company’s Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence (MILVEHCOE), based at Redbank, south-east Queensland.
LAND 400 Phase 2 is scheduled to achieve final operational capability in 2027, after which Rheinmetall would continue delivering sustainment services from its local facility.
The Boxer CRV fleet is operated by the Australian Army’s 7th Brigade.
[Related: Boxer CRV project achieves IOC]
