During the ceremony for the transfer of the first self-propelled artillery system RCH 155 for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which took place on January 13, 2025, in the German city of Kassel, Ralph Ketzell, the CEO of KNDS Germany, stated that Ukraine could also receive the latest wheeled armored vehicles of the RCT30 Boxer type.
The main feature of the RCT30 Boxer is its versatile capabilities, serving both as a wheeled infantry fighting vehicle and for neutralizing various types of drones at short distances. This is mentioned in a publication on the Hartpunkt portal.
As detailed by the authors of the publication, the troop compartment of the RCT30 Boxer can accommodate up to six equipped soldiers, and the armament of this armored vehicle includes a remotely operated RCT30 module, which is also used on the tracked combat vehicle Puma, hence this module is also referred to as PuBo (i.e., "Puma Boxer").
The armament of this module consists of a 30-mm automatic cannon MK30-2/ABM firing 30 x 173 rounds from Rheinmetall, with the production of RCT30 or PuBo modules handled by ARTEC, a joint venture of KNDS Germany and Rheinmetall. A distinctive feature of the RCT30 is its capability to engage not only ground targets but also drones to provide direct cover for infantry on the battlefield.
It is known that the Bundeswehr is currently planning to procure 150 RCT30 armored vehicles for its Mittlere Kräfte grenadier units, while the Netherlands plans to acquire 72 wheeled armored vehicles of the RCT30 type.
At the same time, when discussing the aspect of versatility in the potential use of the RCT30 Boxer, it's essential to consider another detail.
At the aforementioned ceremony for the transfer of the RCH 155 for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany Oleksiy Makeyev also spoke, announcing the possible acquisition of Boxer-based vehicles designated as Kommandobegleitfahrzeug – "command support vehicle" equipped with a 30-mm automatic cannon for the Ukrainian army.
In this context, it is reasonable to assume that the future Kommandobegleitfahrzeug based on the Boxer with 30-mm cannons for the Armed Forces of Ukraine could be the same RCT30 vehicles, but with a special function, such as escorting and providing cover from enemy drones for the RCH 155 self-propelled artillery systems on the battlefield.
It is worth noting that the first RCH 155 presented to our military is also equipped with a remotely operated module with a machine gun for self-defense. However, additional capabilities are clearly needed due to the dominance of various types of UAVs in modern warfare.
