Same thing I'm thinking, but why doesn't the MoD just state it like that, what's with the the smoke and mirrors with regards to these APC deals?
I would suggest the problem is not the government, but the reporting... every country hears the Russians are testing their countries vehicle and it is going to be entering service in the Russian military next year.
Does the Boxer offer anything the Centauro and Patria lack?
They wont know till they test it.
All the companies making these vehicles will make all sorts of claims, but it all comes out in the testing.
I don't even think Germany has that many Boxers in service yet. I can understand buying perhaps one foreign model for testing but three separate ones, and everything that goes along with it seems costly. Maybe they're getting an amazing deal, maybe Merkel is happy about her new pipeline.
It all depends. If they are bought outright the Russians might test one or two in the desert and the arctic and in a range of other environments like mountains etc, while the third might be tested with different weapon types to see what sort of damage it can withstand before failing.
If they are not allowed to shoot at them then they might have them in swamps and deserts and mountains and other environments looking for problems and advantages.
It might be that their transmissions are very good, or their engines are more powerful and more fuel efficient, or that their cold start ignition systems are worth adopting, or perhaps their heaters operate at colder temperatures than their Russian equivalents. Their bullet proof glass might stop heavier bullets or might be easier to see through... things you really only can find out from using them.
Great video. One thing that's a little concerning is that they don't appear to be aiming their rifles when they get off the beach. Is this just some type of suppression tactic?
Mostly a "we are firing blanks and have nothing to actually aim at" type thing I suspect. In the case of a real attack they will likely be aiming properly and keeping the bursts short.
BTW Nice find TR-1