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KMW has awarded new subcontracts to the local firm for the delivery of Boxer mechanised infantry vehicles to the British Army.
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ARTEC consortium member KMW has entered into a new contractual agreement with British defence company WFEL for the production of Boxer Vehicle Drive Module fabricated hulls over 10 years.
WFEL has also secured a contract for the assembly, integration and test (AIT) of approximately half of the 500 vehicles to be supplied to the British Army under the £2.3 billion contract signed with ARTEC in late 2019.
According to WFEL, the signing of these contracts would enable further mobilisation of the firm’s UK supply chain, including placement of firm orders to procure a variety of the machined and fabricated sub-assemblies used for manufacture of the Boxer hulls.
WFEL is currently engaged in detailed discussions with UK fabrication and machining SMEs for the provision of specific Boxer Drive Module hull assembly components.
The company expects the development of its supply chain to both sustain and create jobs across the United Kingdom.
WFEL has also committed to ramping up its recruitment of more specialist operational and fabrication personnel, estimated to generate 120 new long-term jobs at its Stockport site.
“The Boxer vehicles are amongst the most advanced armoured vehicles in the world and WFEL’s new state-of-the-art Boxer production hall, currently nearing completion, will be one of the most advanced military vehicle manufacturing facilities of its type,” WFEL managing director Ian Anderton said.
“We have already contracted with a number of UK suppliers for the construction, site infrastructure and security facilities for this new production facility.
“The signing of these latest contracts with KMW means that WFEL can confidently move forward to implement the next stages of the UK Boxer manufacturing program.”
He added: “In doing so, we are offering a significant number of long-term career opportunities for highly skilled personnel to work on producing these advanced military vehicles, which will provide key defence capabilities for the British Army as part of its Strike Brigade.
“We look forward to engaging with yet more supply chain partners as we move another step closer to the first of these uniquely modular military vehicles rolling off our production lines and being delivered to the British Army.”
[Related: British PM announces historic UK military modernisation, strategic reorientation]
