Germany Prepares Largest-Ever Boxer Order: ~1,800 Vehicles for €25 Billion

Under the “Arminius” program, Germany is preparing to sign a €25 billion firm contract in December 2026 for roughly 1,800 Boxer armored vehicles — the largest order in the program’s history.

At a Glance

• Firm contract: ~1,800 vehicles, €25 billion, expected by December 2026.
• A separate maintenance contract worth ~€4 billion is anticipated in January 2027.
• With options, the full framework could exceed €75 billion.
• Production split 50/50 between Rheinmetall and KNDS.
• The order roughly doubles the number of Boxers Germany has ever received.

Inside the Arminius Program

According to details reported by Defense Express, the Bundeswehr’s Arminius program covers approximately 1,800 heavy-wheeled armored vehicles, with a €25 billion firm contract expected in December 2026 and a ~€4 billion maintenance contract to follow in January 2027. If all options are exercised, the total framework could exceed €75 billion.

The variant list is unusually broad: Führungsboxer command-and-control vehicles, Skyranger self-propelled anti-aircraft systems, armored bridge layers, RCH 155 wheeled howitzers, squad transport vehicles, medical and training versions, JFST fire-support vehicles, NNbS short-range air defense elements, Schakal infantry fighting vehicles and heavy weapon carriers.

An Even Split Between Rheinmetall and KNDS

Production will be divided equally between Boxer co-manufacturers Rheinmetall and KNDS, giving Rheinmetall roughly €12.5 billion of the firm contract plus €2 billion of the maintenance package. In the same week, Germany and the Netherlands added 69 more Boxer RCT30 infantry fighting vehicles to their joint procurement, taking that program to 291 systems — further evidence of the platform’s momentum.

At roughly double the total number of Boxers Germany has ever taken delivery of, the single order reflects Berlin’s strategy of meeting the vehicle requirements of its new NATO-committed division structures in one framework.

Why It Matters

The order is the clearest measure yet of how large European land-forces modernization has become: one program renews an entire fleet spanning command vehicles, air defense, artillery and bridging, anchored to Germany’s 2029 NATO readiness targets.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Arminius program?

A Bundeswehr framework to renew its heavy-wheeled armored fleet in a single contract, named after the Germanic commander who defeated Rome’s legions.

When do deliveries start?

The firm contract is expected in December 2026; the delivery schedule will be fixed at signature.

Sources

• Defense Express (10 August 2026) — Order size, variant list, contract values and timeline.
• defence-industry.eu (10 August 2026) — Germany-Netherlands order for 69 more Boxer RCT30s; second source.