Rolls-Royce mtu 199 Engines: Powering the Boxer Armoured Vehicle

The Boxer armoured transport vehicle and the mtu Series 199 have been a joint success story for years. Further orders were added in 2025, bringing the total number of 8V199 engines to around 400 in 2025. The modular vehicle consists of an eight-wheeled drive module onto which mission modules are mounted depending on the intended use. This has resulted in a large number of variants for European and non-European armies in a short period of time. What they all have in common is the drive: all of the more than 2,000 Boxer vehicles ordered or already delivered and their derivatives are powered by mtu 8V199 engines. With over 4,500 engines delivered, the mtu 199 series is the world's most successful programme in its performance class for military land vehicles used by the armies of NATO members and allied states. It stands for high-performance engines with low space requirements and high power density, which can be used to power new weapon systems and to re-engine existing vehicle fleets with high efficiency. Building on this concept, Rolls-Royce is expanding the 199 series into a larger family to meet the increasing performance requirements of the troops and the limited budgets of the armies. Rolls-Royce recently announced performance upgrades of the existing variants of the mtu Series 199 and the development of a 10-cylinder variant with up to 1,100 kW and a 12-cylinder variant with over 1,300 kW of power. Because many NATO countries and friendly nations are adapting their armed forces to the current threat situation, more and more powerful vehicles are needed. With our 199 family, we will in future offer a universal portfolio of engines ranging from 260 kW to over 1,300 kW, which fully meets the current requirements of the armed forces for a modern drive concept. This includes not only higher engine power, but also the concept of maximum parts commonality. This makes it easier to replace drives within vehicle fleets and simplifies the storage of spare parts and the supply of troops. This concept not only ensures economical storage of spare parts, but also provides troops in the field with significant tactical advantages in terms of supply and repairs.”