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.