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8x8 IFV [Qatar]

Last reviewed: 11th December 2025

Snapshot

Due to the collapse of a deal with Nexter to procure 490 VBCI-2 8x8 armoured vehicles, Qatar is understood to have an outstanding requirement for a new 8x8 IFV to replace legacy platforms in service with its armed forces.

Specific details concerning the programme have not been disclosed, but it is likely to be similar to the failed VBCI deal, which was reported to cover the acquisition of 490 vehicles for EUR 1.5 billion ($1.61 billion).

According to an industry source at Eurosatory 2024, Qatar and KNDS were apparently in the later stages of negotiations for the Boxer 8x8 vehicle fitted with the RCT40 turret also from KNDS.

In December 2025, a KNDS spokesman released several pictures on X showing Qatari officials taking delivery of at least three Boxer IFVs. It is currently unclear if this was a downselection prior to a contract or a formal contract award that has not been disclosed.

Annual expenditure

Export dataExport chart

Annual units funded

Export dataExport chart

Summary

Programme value:
$3.2 billion (Estimated)
Units required:
490 (Modelled)
Award year:
2026
Status:
Selected
Type:
Procurement - new
Systems:
Boxer - Downselected
Superav Land - Unsuccessful
VBCI - Unsuccessful
Unit cost:
$6.0 million (Estimated)
PGO:
80% ?

Bids and suppliers

ARTEC - Boxer - GERMANY

ARTEC - Boxer - GERMANY

Downselected

 
Supplier
Equipment Category
Subcategory
System Name
Prime ARTEC
Manufacturer:ARTEC
Equipment Category:Military vehicles
Equipment Category: APCs/IFVs - 8x8
System Name:Boxer
Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace
Manufacturer:Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace
Equipment Category:Turrets/weapon stations
Equipment Category: --
System Name:TBC
IDV - Superav Land - ITALY

IDV - Superav Land - ITALY

Unsuccessful

 
Supplier
Equipment Category
Subcategory
System Name
Prime IDV
Manufacturer:IDV
Equipment Category:Military vehicles
Equipment Category: APCs/IFVs - 8x8
System Name:Superav Land
KNDS - VBCI - NETHERLANDS

KNDS - VBCI - NETHERLANDS

Unsuccessful

 
Supplier
Equipment Category
Subcategory
System Name
Prime KNDS
Manufacturer:KNDS
Equipment Category:Military vehicles
Equipment Category: Trucks and utility vehicles - 8x8
System Name:VBCI

Additional Information

Programme Background

Qatar requires a new 8x8 armoured vehicle platform to replace a range of legacy wheeled and tracked armoured vehicles currently in service with its armed forces, including the AMX-10RC, AMX-10P and VAB.

Following a competitive evaluation, it selected the Nexter VBCI-2 over Patria's Armored Modular Vehicle (AMV) in December 2017. Qatar was expected to procure multiple variants of the VBCI-2, consisting of an APC, ambulance, command post, IFV, mortar carrier and reconnaissance vehicle.

Despite the selection, negotiations failed to progress into a firm contract. According to French media reports, a French government investigation into allegations of corruption concerning Qatari national Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, president of PSG football club, threatened to jeopardise the contract.

Although subsequent reports claimed that French officials had managed to rescue the contract for Nexter, the programme stalled and Qatar began evaluating alternative platforms.

Among the alternative platforms under consideration was the ARTEC consortium's Boxer and the Iveco Defence Vehicles Superav Land. A variant of the former equipped with the Kongsberg RT60 unmanned turret was developed for an undisclosed Middle Eastern customer and unveiled in May 2021, while the latter was demonstrated to Qatari officials in October 2020 ahead of its official public debut. The RT60-armed Boxer is expected to be production-ready by late 2022.

In December 2025, a KNDS spokesman released several pictures on X depicting Qatari military officials receiving at least three Boxer IFVs. The spokesman did not confirm if this was a contract or a downselection, stating simply that Qatar had taken delivery of its first Boxers. 

Because of this Shephard has assessed that Boxer has been downselected. Should confirmation of a contract award be forthcoming, then this programme will be updated accordingly.

Forecast Methodology

Units Required

Qatar was reported to have negotiated for the procurement of 490 VBCIs, suggesting a similar number of Boxers will be procured.

Programme Value and Unit Cost

Boxer has an estimated unit cost of $6 million. Assuming that 10% of this programme accounts for support costs, as was the case with the previous VBCI programme, Shephard estimates that the programme has a total value of $3.23 billion.

PGO

Shephard has awarded this programme a PGO of 80%, as whilst there has been relatively little information about it, the delivery of at least three Boxers indicates that it is highly likely to proceed.

Programme Timeline

Assuming that Qatar downselected the Boxer in 2025, a contract could be signed in 2026. This would allow deliveries to commence in 2027 and be concluded in 2032.

Related Programmes

VBCI (Qatar)

Qatar • Army

Following a competitive evaluation, in December 2017 Qatar announced that it had entered into negotiations with Nexter to procure 490 VBCI-2 8x8 armoured vehicles in …

Latest updates

Field Old Value New Value Date
Contact Stage forecast selected 11/12/2025
Value 1754000000.0 3230000000.0 11/12/2025
Value Confidence modelled estimated 11/12/2025
Award Year 2025 2026 11/12/2025
First Delivery 2026 2027 11/12/2025
Unit Cost $3,222,000 $6,000,000 11/12/2025
Contact Stage forecast selected 11/12/2025
Value 1754000000.0 3230000000.0 11/12/2025
Value Confidence modelled estimated 11/12/2025
Award Year 2025 2026 11/12/2025
First Delivery 2026 2027 11/12/2025
Unit Cost $3,222,000 $6,000,000 11/12/2025
Award Year 2024 2025 29/01/2025
First Delivery 2025 2026 29/01/2025
Award Year 2023 2024 19/06/2024
First Delivery 2024 2025 19/06/2024
Award Year 2022 2023 11/05/2023