Puma 4x4

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Puma 4x4 armoured vehicle personnel carrier

Description

Technical Data

Specifications

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Description

The Puma is a family of 4x4 and 6x6 light armoured vehicles designed and manufactured by the Consorzio Iveco Fiat - Oto Melara based in Rome, Italy. The Puma was developed under a specific requirement of the Italian army to have a wheeled armoured vehicle able to work with the Italian anti-tank armoured vehicle Centauro. The first prototype of the Puma was completed in 1988. At the end of 1999, the Italian Army ordered 580 Puma vehicles, 250 of the 6x6 configuration, and 330 4x4 vehicles. First vehicles will be delivered in 2003 to enter in service with the Italian armed forces. IVECO has developed a number of specialised versions of the Puma for the Italian Army. These include ambulance, command post, 81mm mortar, air defence with MBDA Mistral missiles and two anti-tank (one with the Raytheon TOW and one with the Euromissile MILAN anti-tank guided missile system). Eight cavalry regiments and two special forces regiments of Italian army are equipped with a total of 330 Puma 4x4 vehicles. 250 Puma 6x6 vehicles are in service with the Italian Army Lagunari Regiment “Serenissima”, the “Folgore” Parachutist Brigade, the 66th Air Assault Regiment and the Alpini Regiments. The Puma design is such that it can be adopted for a wide range of other roles and missions. The PUMA can be transported by a CH47C helicopter or a military transport aircraft.

Variants

- Puma 6x6: the vehicle uses a 6x6 chassis and can carry six fully equipped infantry soldiers.

Technical Data

Armament

A small turret is mounted at the centre top of the hull. The turret can be armed with a 7.62 mm or 12.7 mm machine gun. In the Italian army, the Puma 4x4 is fitted with a one-man, electrically power-operated turret, HITROLE® designed and manufactured by the Italian Company OTO Melara. This turret can be armed with a 12.7 (or 7.62) mm machine gun or 40 mm AGL overhead and an under armour control system. Sighting is performed by means of a mechanical linked sight composed of day/night cameras and LRF in accordance with customer's requirements (day-TV, IL-TV, IR-TV, LRF are available). A special aiming periscope, with fixed ocular while the output axis (line of sight) rotates with the turret and moves in elevation parallel to the gun, can be installed as back-up (option). Firing and turret movements are carried out electrically by the operator through a control panel and a joystick from a remote position. The machine gun is recocked from inside the vehicle and is fitted with a firing solenoid for firing by remote control. Feeding of ammunition is performed through a flexible duct. The belted rounds are contained in ammunition boxes, and can be reloaded from inside the vehicle. The Puma 4x4 is also equipped with one row of three Galix smoke dischargers, mounted on each side of the hull. The Puma 4x4 is also configured so that additional weapon systems can be fitted. These include anti-tank systems (Milan orPanzerfaust), a60 mm mortar, a crew machine gun and a40 mm shell launcher (individual weapon version).

Design and protection

The layout of the Puma 4x4 is conventional with the driver at the front, just behind the engine compartment and the troop’s compartment at the rear. The driver is seated on the left right side front of the hull. The driver has three periscopic sights. The centre periscope is a passive night vision periscope. The Italian 4x4 PUMA carries four infantry troops. One single door is mounted to each side of the hull and one more at the rear. The hull of the Puma 4x4 is of all-welded steel armour construction which provides a protection against firing of small arms and shell splinters. The hull has been designed to accept add-on armour to provide increased protection.

Mobility

The engine is mounted at the front of the vehicle. The PUMA is powered by an Iveco 132 Kw four-cylinder engine with a turbo-intercooler which is coupled to a 5 speed Renk automatic transmission. Output from the gearbox goes through a transfer box to front and rear differentials. The vehicle has power assisted steering to the front axle on the 4x4 version. The Puma 4x4 can run at a maximum road speed over 100km/h with a maximum road range of 700 km. The Puma 4x4 can climb a gradient of 60%, side slope 30% and the vehicle has a fording depth of 1m.

Accessories

Standard equipment includes powered steering, run-flat tyres, a nuclear, biological and chemical defensive system and a fire-detection and suppression system. The Italian Army PUMAs are equipped with air-conditioning, heating, a pressurised NBC system, an engine compartment fire protection system (both automatic and manual) and an electric self-recovery winch mounted at the rear right side of the hull. The PUMA's can also be fitted with a laser warning system, automatic smoke producer and automatic fire protection system in the crew compartment. The PUMA can be driven with the driver under armour through three day periscopes and night vision is provided by a light intensification device (IL). The vehicle is able to accommodate a number of different radio systems linked to three antennas.

Specifications