British Army to receive extra 100 Stockport-made armoured vehicles

The British Army is to receive an additional 100 Boxer armoured vehicles as UK-German production begins at sites in Stockport, Telford and Germany.

Stockport-based fabricators, WFEL, is among the manufacturing partners of programme, which has seen the business deliver a new factory in Heaton Chapel. WFEL is part of a £3.2 billion supply chain to add these vehicles to the UK’s military capabilities.

The UK and Germany have worked closely together on the Boxer programme for the British Army, with the Boxer build in the UK benefitting from German expertise, data and collaboration, with production now underway.

The first 117 vehicles are being built on German production lines, as UK facilities in Telford, through Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL), and Stockport, through WFEL ramp up for the remaining 506 and begin manufacture.

The first Boxer armoured vehicles will arrive in units from 2023, with the overall programme protecting up to 1,000 jobs nationally, including 50 at WFEL in Stockport, enhancing skill sets and creating an ambitious UK apprenticeship scheme.

Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Sir Christopher Tickell KBE said:

“This is a significant announcement for the Army in enhancing this key capability under the Integrated Review. Boxer will form the core of our modernised Armoured Brigade Combat Teams and it is great news for our service personnel getting more of these excellent platforms as part of delivering Future Soldier, whilst investing in the UK’s defence industry and supply chains.”