Rolls-Royce has secured orders to supply 350 maximum transmission unit (mtu) 199 series engines for Boxer armoured wheeled vehicles intended for the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) as well as other international customers.
The orders, placed by Rheinmetall and KNDS Deutschland (KNDS), are for the 8-cylinder engines, each capable of producing either 530 or 600 kilowatts (Kw).
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
The first deliveries of these vehicles are expected in the first half of 2026.
The Boxer vehicle, featuring an eight-wheeled drive module compatible with interchangeable mission modules, has been deployed by various European and non-European armies, resulting in several vehicle variants.
More than 2,000 Boxer vehicles ordered or delivered, along with their derivatives, use mtu 8V199 engines as their power source.
Further orders in 2025 increased the total number of these engines used in Boxers to approximately 400 that year.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataRolls-Royce has delivered over 4,500 units from the mtu 199 series to date.
The engines are utilised in military land vehicles operated by NATO members and allied forces worldwide.
Rolls-Royce is now developing the mtu 199 series into a broader engine family, offering outputs exceeding 1,300kW, to address evolving operational needs and budgetary constraints faced by armed forces.
Recent developments include announced upgrades to existing models and new 10-cylinder and 12-cylinder variants delivering up to 1,100kW and over 1,300kW, respectively.
Rolls-Royce Power Systems CEO Dr Jörg Stratmann said: “The new orders show that a new era is dawning in our industry. Today’s armed forces need greater mobility, flexibility and performance – and we are rising to this challenge.
“With the expanded mtu Series 199, we offer a universal drive concept that meets current and future requirements.”
In December last year, Rolls-Royce was contracted to deliver more than 300 mtu MB 873 Ka-501 engines by KNDS for new Leopard 2 battle tanks.
