Germany moves to upgrade Puma armoured vehicles as additional procurement remains on hold
The Puma programme has suffered some major setbacks in recent months but the latest upgrade contract may unlock future procurement efforts. (Photo: PSM)
Germany is spending €770 million to bring all its Puma infantry fighting vehicle inventory up to a uniform S1 design standard by 2029.
Germany’s BAAINBw defence procurement agency has awarded Projekt System & Management (PSM), a JV of Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and Rheinmetall, a contract to retrofit a further 143 Puma infantry fighting vehicles.
This represents the exercise of two options contained in a 2021 contract for bringing original-configuration Pumas to the S1 design standard.
The order is worth around €770 million and means that all Pumas in Germany's inventory be in S1 configuration by 2029. The refit includes integration of high-resolution day and night camera systems, the MELLS lightweight guided missile system and digital radio equipment.
Shephard Defence Insight Land Analyst Sam Hart commented: 'The German government’s decision comes at a critical moment for PSM. As Berlin begins to distribute its €100 billion ($109.6 billion) ‘special fund’ for defence procurement, the allocation of $844.4 million will undoubtedly serve as a stop-gap for the publicly flailing Puma IFV programme.
'Now more in the public eye than ever, the future of Germany’s $6 million IFV appears temporarily supported. As the final 143 Pumas are upgraded to the new S1 status, PSM looks to have been afforded a second chance to prove their ongoing efficacy, potentially paving the way for the resumption of $1.7 billion worth of currently halted Puma procurement efforts.'
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
![DSEI 2025: Avon Protection Focuses on Integrated Respiratory and Ocular Systems for Defence]()
DSEI 2025: Avon Protection Focuses on Integrated Respiratory and Ocular Systems for Defence
At DSEI 2025, Avon Protection outlines its latest developments in integrated headgear and respiratory protection systems designed for military and specialist users.
-
![DSEI 2025: Still no order from British Army or Germany for RCH-155 Boxers]()
DSEI 2025: Still no order from British Army or Germany for RCH-155 Boxers
The first customer for the RCH-155 artillery system on the Boxer platform is Ukraine, which has already started to take delivery of the first of 54 systems from KNDS Deutschland. There is still no contract from Germany or the UK, while Hanwha continues to say it can supply its K9 system at short notice.
-
![DSEI 2025: Cambridge Aerospace Skyhammer and Starhammer interceptors make debut]()
DSEI 2025: Cambridge Aerospace Skyhammer and Starhammer interceptors make debut
The startup’s solutions have officially emerged from cover since the company’s inception in 2024, with its two interceptors offered as cost-effective air defence solutions to counter cruise missiles and uncrewed aerial vehicles.
-
![DSEI 2025: Belgium will be fourth user of 40mm 40CT cannon]()
DSEI 2025: Belgium will be fourth user of 40mm 40CT cannon
The cannon is currently used by the French Army, French Navy and British Army. It has an elevation of +85° with a cyclic rate of fire of 200 rounds per minute.
