and now known as Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV). This vehicle is intended to equip the 4 "heavy protected mobility" battalions under Army 2020 Refine. They will also be part of the two Strike Brigades proposed under the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015. In 2018 the UK rejoined the Boxer AFV consortium and as of Oct. 2019 are in negotiations with a view to purchasing 500+ units. On 5 November 2019, it was announced that a £2.8 billion deal for 500 Boxer armoured vehicles had been signed. Deliveries would start in 2023. Senior army officers and procurement officials are looking at either upgrading the Challenger 2 or outright replacing it. At DSEI 2015, army officials expressed their concern with the Challenger 2's armament and its inevitable obsolescence in coming years. Other causes of concern are the Challenger's engine and electronics. The army stated that they had been in discussions with armoured fighting vehicle manufacturers about the future of the tank and its potential replacement. A later Defence News article said that the British Army would still proceed with its Challenger 2 LEP, citing that a replacement at the present would be too costly. On 22 December 2016, an assessment phase award was awarded to BAE Systems and Rheinmetall Land Systeme GmbH to progress the Challenger 2 Life Extension Project. Under the Non-Articulated Vehicle – Protected (NAV-P) program, the MoD is looking for a successor to the DROPS vehicles. This has resulted in a contract placed in 2018 for the conversion of 382 MAN HX77 Support Vehicles to carry the EPLS (Enhanced Palletised Load System) equipment. They are due to fully enter service in March 2021. The contract includes the conversion of 33 winterised/waterproofed versions The Army is currently in the process of receiving 56 Harris Corporation T7 EOD unmanned ground vehicles (UGV), procured by DE&S under Project Starter. These systems are due to fully enter service by December 2020, replacing the fleet of Wheelbarrow Mk.8Bs at the same time. The British MOD released a Request for Information for the Mobile Fires Platform, a new 155mm self-propelled howitzer to support the Armoured Infantry and Strike Brigades. A Prior Information Notice (PIN) was released for a successor to the Mobile Artillery Monitoring Battlefield Radar (MAMBA), Advanced Sound-ranging Post (ASP) and Counter-battery radar, all which will reach their out-out-service date in 2026. In July 2019, the UK issued a PIN notice for Directed