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Tank commander’s verdict on British Army’s new chameleon | Exclusive Boxer test drive

The Telegraph

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Is the British Army’s new 36-ton Boxer armoured vehicle a game-changer? Former Tank Commander Hamish De Bretton-Gordon takes it to its limits at Millbrook.

From hitting 70+ mph on the high-speed track to tackling a 45-degree sandy incline , Hamish gives his unfiltered, expert review. He looks at the Boxer's Rolls-Royce V8 engine, its modular system and addresses the ultimate military question: is the tracks versus wheels debate officially over?

Read more here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026...

#BritishArmy #MilitaryTech #ArmouredVehicle

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20 Comments

@KU8A1909 2 months ago

Love to see our british allies and friends happy with the Boxer. I hope it will save a lot of your guys from harm. That’s how Europe should work together. Greets from Germany 🇬🇧🇩🇪🇪🇺 and congrats for third place in the World Cup.

@dannyboi4111 2 months ago

Buying the Boxer from Germany was a good decision, now if only the British government stayed away from General Dynamics and never bought the Ajax they could have bought the KF31 Lynx from Germany as well.

@gallowsongs 2 months ago

The irony of course is that Britain was part of the original development, before wanting their own thing, spending hundreds of millions on a vehicle that was never built, and then bought something they couldn't co-develop and buy from Germany.

@Jeffrey_Goines 2 months ago (edited)

As part of the Arminius project, the Germans plan to procure up to 3,000 of these vehicles.

@ro0140 2 months ago

Great to see that the UK has also chosen the Boxer, I have been in the Boxer numerous time in the Nederland from 2007 - 2016 and I always found it a great IFV.

@gabehorn1001 2 months ago

We are also getting the RCH 155 artillery version which is a quantum leap in mobile fires platforms. Build more and put Ajax turret on it, its already been tested. One platform built in the UK at multiple sights.

@edrandell424 2 months ago

The modularity and adaptability of the Boxer with the interchangeable modules is really damn cool, an excellent ability to have.

@cyrilj7533 2 weeks ago

It needs a turret with a Cannon .

@gamm8939 2 months ago

Thousands of hours of experience, and yet he doesn't know the difference between an IFV and an APC. A .50 cal is not suitable as the primary weapon of an IFV, which is why there is a version of the Boxer with a 30mm autocannon.

@Ianmundo 2 months ago

a dedicated anti-drone variant would be wise, Rheinmetall already have the Skyranger turret which is Boxer compatible

@NotUnymous 2 months ago

3:43 Well visible on his pants, just how much he was happy about this vehicle and testdrive 😂

@watz6962 2 months ago

Great thing about it is, that whenever needed, one can simply develop a new module and add it .No need to develop the driving stuff...

@troywilliams-g1w 2 months ago

i do like the modular concept

@brianingarfill1773 2 months ago

Another great report with added personal insights included!!!

@gusgone4527 2 months ago

With all due respect Sir. Tracked and wheeled vehicles compliment each other, they do not replace one another. There are times when only a tracked vehicle can keep up with a MBT. The beauty of Boxer is there are tracked hulls available that accept the very same modules as the wheeled version. Meaning a mechanised unit could have both wheeled and tracked hulls and go anywhere!

@enochpowelghost 3 weeks ago

Flexibility and power the right combination of diverse roles, nice bit of kit!.

@jsytac 2 months ago

Much better than Ajax!!

@stuartparkinson6061 2 months ago

40mm Cased Telescoped Automatic Weapon (CTAS)
22 Jan 2026 · In April 2008, the MoD announced that the CTA International 40 mm CTWS had been selected for both the Warrior and FRES Scout, although the MoD did

@markdavies9636 2 months ago (edited)

We should have never invested into Ajax but invested in the CV90!

@jasonclark950 2 months ago (edited)

Australian Army has the Boxer and has chosen the tracked AS21 Redback infantry fighting vehicle with the 30mm cannon. The redback is also fitted with anti tank missiles as well.