Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and Rheinmetall’s joint venture, Projekt System & Management GmbH (PSM), has received an order to equip 143 Puma infantry fighting vehicles from the German Federal Office for Equipment, Information Technology, and Service Support (BAAINBw).
The German government has decided to upgrade the original Puma infantry fighting vehicles to the more advanced S1 design status. Thus they have exercised two contract options to do so. The date of this agreement’s signing is June 2021.
The volume of the order is around 770 million euros. By 2029, the key firepower and command and control capabilities of all 143 Puma systems will be up to date. Exercising these options ensures that all Pumas in the Bundeswehr inventory will conform to the S1 uniform design status.
The MELLS multi-role lightweight guided missile system, digital radio gear, and high-resolution video systems with day and night capabilities are also part of the upgrade.
The Puma Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) was created to replace the aging Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) Marder 1A3. It is 7.35 meters in length, 3.80 meters in width, and 3.37 meters in height.
It can carry a crew of three plus six fully equipped soldiers and has a combat weight of 43 tonnes. It has a top speed of 70 kph on the highway and 50 kph off-road thanks to its MTU 10-cylinder 800 hp diesel engine. The Puma can travel up to 600 km without refueling.
The Puma is protected from mines, shrapnel from artillery, and small weapons fire thanks to its armor. Ceramic and steel modules protect the hull and the turret with composite armor. The Puma has a soft-kill system that can identify and destroy enemy missiles before they cause damage.
The Puma can fire both armor-piercing and high-explosive rounds from its 30mm Rheinmetall MK30-2/ABM autocannon because of its dual-feed system. With a rate of fire of 200 rounds per minute, the cannon can hit targets up to four thousand meters away. In addition to its Spike-LR anti-tank missiles, the Puma also features a coaxial 5.56mm machine gun.
The Puma IFV is equipped with cutting-edge electronics and communications technology, such as a battlefield management system for communicating with other vehicles.
The vehicle also features a digital fire control system that integrates the weapons and sensors, allowing the crew to engage targets with the utmost precision.
In terms of mobility, the Puma features a fully independent suspension system. The vehicle is also amphibious and can swim at a speed of up to 10 km/h.
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