Following delivery of the 100th Boxer vehicle to the British Army, Team Boxer UK members Pearson Engineering and its subsidiary Responsive Engineering are taking the opportunity of DVD 2026 at Millbrook to shine a spotlight on the industrial capability behind the programme.
Supporting the strengthening of UK Defence while simultaneously supporting the growth of skills and jobs in Tyneside – a traditional centre of engineering in northeastern England – the programme demonstrates the benefits of investment and of developing new apprenticeships. Both companies work alongside fellow team members KNDS and Rheinmetall, providing invaluable support for strengthening Pearson’s role in all Britain’s AFV programmes – Ajax, Boxer and Challenger 3.
Pearson manufactures Boxer Mission Module hulls at its Armstrong Works in Newcastle upon Tyne. The contract has helped drive growth at the historic Tyneside facility, with over 400 people now employed across its land manufacturing activities, 52 apprentices supported and new roles created to meet demand. The impact extends beyond Pearson Engineering itself. Over £14 million of supplier spend was placed by the organisation in 2025, with 70% going to UK businesses and 42% within 50 miles of Newcastle, helping sustain sovereign defence manufacturing capability and skilled employment across North East England and the wider UK.
“The delivery of the 100th BOXER is an important milestone for the British Army and for the wider UK industrial team. It provides an opportunity to recognise the people, skills, investment and specialist suppliers behind that achievement. For us, BOXER is part of a broader commitment to supporting the UK’s land programmes and maintaining the sovereign capability needed to deliver and sustain them. That means investing in our facilities and workforce, developing apprentices and working with strategic partners and suppliers. The strength of that industrial network is reflected in the jobs and skills supported at Armstrong Works and in the £14 million we placed with the supply chain in 2025, nearly three quarters of which went to UK businesses,” observed Ian Bell, Pearson CEO.
On 17 September at DVD, Pearson Engineering will chair a panel Protecting the Nation, Powering the Economy: How UK Land Programmes Deliver Skills, Jobs, and UK Economic Growth’, bringing together the British Army and industry to explore how programmes such as Boxer deliver military capability and more. And that is a story worth telling – British engineering at its (very good) best. Sometimes the good guys win!
Headline image: 100 Boxers have now been delivered to the British Army, of a total of 623 currently under contract. (Pearson Engineering)
