Armored vehicle maker KNDS has presented the expansion of Boxer wheeled tank production at its main plant in Munich-Allach. It marks the first serial production since the end of the Cold War. CEO Florian Hohenwarter plans further capacity expansions for potential large Bundeswehr orders.
KNDS Germany presented the production expansion of the Boxer wheeled tank in Munich-Allach on Wednesday. The Bundeswehr could order up to 3000 vehicles, though exact numbers have not yet been confirmed.
Florian Hohenwarter, CEO of KNDS Germany, is introducing automotive industry principles. For the Boxer order, KNDS is partnering for the first time with major supplier Dräxlmaier, which builds interchangeable mission modules in its own plant. This allows a significant increase in production at the main facility.
Hohenwarter plans additional industrial capacity. “We will need additional industrial capacity for Boxer production,” he said in an interview with Handelsblatt. Building a new plant would take too long.
Instead, he favors existing sites. “It goes much faster with an existing industrial location,” Hohenwarter explained. “A well-oiled team, say from the automotive industry, would be ideal. We are in talks about that.”