Lithuania favoring Boxer 8×8 IPV to replace M113

Jane’s is reporting that the Lithuania’s military has recommended the country buys the ARTEC Boxer 8×8 infantry fighting vehicle.  ARTEC is a joint venture between Krauss-Maffei Wegmann & Rheinmetall MAN. The new wheeled IFV will equip two battalions of the ‘Iron Wolf’ mechanised infantry brigade to replace obsolete M113 tracked armored personnel carriers. Each battalion will consist of three companies, each with 10-12 IFVs, for a total of 60-72 IFVs. The program award will be biggest contract ever for the Lithuanian Armed Forces, worth about  $502 million. Delivery is to begin in 2017 and continue until 2020.  Several companies were invited for negotiations, including: Elbit, FNSS, KMW/ARTEC, Lockheed Martin UK, Nexter, Patria, Otokar, Oto Melara/Iveco, General Dynamics Land Systems and General Dynamics European Land Systems.

Full article here.

Here is a video of Jane’s reporter Christopher Foss describing the Boxer in 2014.