New human-machine interface will help Boxer punch above its weight

PERTH, Australia — An Australian startup is developing new tactical orchestration software that will allow Boxer 8x8 armored vehicles to control unmanned systems in the air and on the ground simply by operators giving verbal instructions.

Sydney-based Breaker Industries, founded three years ago, is working with Rheinmetall Defence Australia to perfect the Avalon human-machine interface that will make a Boxer commander’s duties less onerous in the heat of combat.

The two firms signed a teaming agreement on Oct. 6, the opening day of the Land Forces 2026 exhibition in Perth. Work will now continue for twelve months to mature the Avalon system for the Boxer, including trials slated for mid-2027.

Michael Irwin, co-founder of Breaker, demonstrated to Defense News how simple voice commands – using the same type of language for directing soldiers – can control drones and get them to perform various tasks.

With uncrewed systems proliferating on battlefields, Irwin said, “The goal is to allow an armored vehicle crew to easily work with teams of those autonomous systems like they were working with another crew member.”

Indeed, he described the software stack as simply a “digital crew member.” Instead of having several extra soldiers dedicated to drone operation taking up space in the rear of the Boxer, this software helps the commander marshal all the assets in the proverbial toolbox.

The Australian Army is acquiring 211 Boxers, with production currently underway at Rheinmetall’s facility near Brisbane. These vehicles are used by cavalry units, so the smooth integration of drones could help enhance the soldiers’ ability to see around the next corner or over the next hill.

Rheinmetall described the software as enabling a “step change in armored vehicle operations capability.”

This system was demonstrated within six months of the project being launched. That demonstration involved a soldier with less than 30 minutes of training controlling a swarm of drones through the Boxer’s standard headset and microphone. They did so while performing normal crew commander functions.

Breaker chose the Boxer as the launch platform because of its digitized backbone, and the Australian Army is “very keen to see it developed,” according to company representatives.

Irwin believes the system is applicable to other vehicles in the Australian Army too, including Hanwha’s AS21 Redback infantry fighting vehicle, due to enter service soon.

The future adoption of Breaker's Avalon software will enable Boxer crews to command drones outside their vehicles via voice commands. (Gordon Arthur)

Nathan Poyner, managing director of Rheinmetall Defence Australia, said there is “most definitely” an opportunity to add this Avalon system to other Boxer users in Europe.

Irwin believes one day a Boxer or other armored vehicle itself could be controlled by voice. For example, the turret could be asked to keep watch on a particular arc.

“It’s technically feasible, but there’s a whole lot of cultural barriers to get through” before this level of autonomy can happen, Irwin said.

Notably, Rheinmetall Australia is manufacturing Boxers fitted with a Lance turret and 30 mm cannon for the German Army. The company won a contract to deliver these heavy weapon carriers to Germany, with the Bundeswehr following the same configuration selected by the Australian Army.

Australia received the first 25 Boxer Block 1 vehicles from Rheinmetall Germany, but the remaining Block 2 vehicles were designed and are being manufactured in Australia.

There are six unique Boxer variants destined to join the Australian Army, and Poyner said five have completed their development so far.

He added that more than 50% of the Boxer’s content is manufactured in Australia, an indication of the depth of the supply chain that Rheinmetall has achieved Down Under.

Poyner added that he is in talks with the Australian military about additional variants of the Boxer, with a counter-drone and air-defense variant armed with a Skyranger 30 turret, made by Rheinmetall’s Switzerland offshoot, considered the most suitable.

Gordon Arthur is an Asia correspondent for Defense News. After a 20-year stint working in Hong Kong, he now resides in New Zealand. He has attended military exercises and defense exhibitions in about 20 countries around the Asia-Pacific region.

澳大利亚珀斯——一家澳大利亚初创公司正在开发一种新的战术协调软件，该软件将使 Boxer 8x8 装甲车能够通过操作员的口头指令来控制空中和地面的无人系统。

总部位于悉尼的 Breaker Industries 公司成立于三年前，该公司正与莱茵金属防务澳大利亚公司合作，完善 Avalon 人机界面，以减轻 Boxer 指挥官在激烈战斗中的负担。

两家公司于10月6日，即2026年珀斯陆军展览会开幕当天，签署了合作协议。接下来将进行为期12个月的工作，以完善适用于“拳击手”坦克的Avalon系统，其中包括计划于2027年中期进行的试验。

Breaker 的联合创始人迈克尔·欧文向《防务新闻》演示了如何使用简单的语音命令（使用与指挥士兵相同的语言）来控制无人机并让它们执行各种任务。

欧文表示，随着无人系统在战场上不断扩散，“我们的目标是让装甲车乘员能够像与另一名乘员合作一样，轻松地与这些自主系统团队合作。”

事实上，他将这套软件系统简单地描述为“数字船员”。与其让几名额外的士兵专门负责无人机操作，占用“拳击手”坦克后部的空间，不如使用这套软件来帮助指挥官调动所有可用的资源。

澳大利亚陆军正在采购211辆“拳击手”装甲车，目前这些车辆正在莱茵金属公司位于布里斯班附近的工厂生产。这些车辆主要供骑兵部队使用，因此无人机的顺利整合将有助于提升士兵观察下一个拐角或下一个山丘的能力。

莱茵金属公司称该软件能够“显著提升装甲车辆的作战能力”。

该系统在项目启动后六个月内就进行了演示。演示中，一名接受过不到30分钟训练的士兵通过“拳击手”无人机的标准耳机和麦克风控制了一群无人机，同时还履行了正常的机组指挥官职责。

Breaker 选择 Boxer 作为其首发平台，是因为 Boxer 拥有数字化主干网，而据该公司代表称，澳大利亚陆军“非常渴望看到它得到开发”。

欧文认为该系统也适用于澳大利亚陆军的其他车辆，包括即将服役的韩华AS21红背蜘蛛步兵战车。

未来，采用 Breaker 公司的 Avalon 软件后，Boxer 车组人员将能够通过语音指令在车外操控无人机。（戈登·阿瑟）

莱茵金属防务澳大利亚公司总经理内森·波伊纳表示，欧洲其他拳击手战斗机用户“绝对”有机会将这款 Avalon 系统添加到他们的设备中。

欧文认为，未来有一天，像“拳击手”或其他装甲车辆这样的设备或许可以通过语音控制。例如，可以要求炮塔监视特定的弧形区域。

欧文说：“从技术上讲，这是可行的，但在实现这种程度的自主权之前，还有很多文化障碍需要克服。”

值得注意的是，莱茵金属澳大利亚公司正在为德国陆军生产配备“长矛”炮塔和30毫米火炮的“拳击手”装甲运兵车。该公司赢得了向德国交付这些重型武器运输车的合同，德国联邦国防军采用了与澳大利亚陆军相同的配置。

澳大利亚从德国莱茵金属公司接收了首批 25 辆 Boxer Block 1 型汽车，但其余的 Block 2 型汽车是在澳大利亚设计和制造的。

澳大利亚陆军将拥有六款独特的拳击手战斗机变型机，波伊纳表示，目前已有五款完成了研发。

他还补充说，Boxer 的零部件超过 50% 产自澳大利亚，这表明莱茵金属在澳大利亚的供应链深度。

波伊纳补充说，他正在与澳大利亚军方商讨拳击手战斗机的其他型号，其中配备莱茵金属瑞士分公司生产的 Skyranger 30 炮塔的反无人机和防空型号被认为是最合适的。

戈登·阿瑟是《防务新闻》的亚洲特派记者。在香港工作20年后，他现居新西兰。他曾到访亚太地区约20个国家，参加过军事演习和防务展览。