Puma IFV joins German forces
The Puma infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) was formally handed over by Rheinmetall and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) to the German armed forces on 24 June.
The vehicle has entered active service with the German military, and the next step will be to train the trainers. The training process has already begun at the German Army training centre in Munster and will run up to the end of 2015.
A special organisation has been set up at the centre to provide three-month initial training sessions in the Puma IFV. The organisation receives the vehicles from the manufacturer, equips them and transfers them to troops being trained. The trained troops return to their home bases with the new vehicles.
Delivery of all 350 Puma IFVs will be complete by 2020, and the vehicles will be manufactured by PSM, a 50-50 joint venture of Rheinmetall and KMW. The contract is worth around $4.72 billion, including additional equipment ordered separately.
Rheinmetall and PSM have concluded the necessary technical/logistical support and maintenance contracts.
The Puma IFV features a new MK30-2/ABM 30mm automatic cannon with programmable ammunition, a hydro-pneumatic chassis, a top speed of 70kmph, a modular protection system and digitised command and control technology. It houses optics, optronics and sensors for ISR.
More from Land Warfare
-
Lockheed Martin signs Australian air and missile defence system deal
Air 6500 Phase 1, worth AU$500 million (US$326 million), will result in a sovereign system that can provide greater situational awareness and help to defend against hostile aircraft and missiles. It will sit at the core of Australia’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence programme.
-
Rheinmetall wins communications deal that could be worth up to €400 million
The systems have been purchased under a special fund which has already been tapped into for the purchase of 60 CH-47F Block II Chinook helicopters worth up to €8 billion (US$8.7 billion) and thousands of Rheinmetall Caracal airmobile special operations vehicles worth €1.9 billion.
-
The Philippines looks to Israel for military equipment amid South China Sea tensions
The southeast Asian country has been enhancing its military readiness by procuring advanced Israeli defence platforms and systems.
-
NSPA signs new helmet system deal and agreement for C-UAS systems
The Caiman helmet has been designed to be scalable for dynamic operations with mission-specific accessories and can incorporate electronics, communications headsets and other critical equipment.