„This
is a crucial day on the way of introducing the PUMA to
the German Armed Forces. We have undergone a challenging
period of research and development, pushing the limits
of this technology“stated Frank Haun, CEO of KMW
and Klaus Eberhardt, CEO of Rheinmetall.
Technology
of extremes: lessons learned from current operations
The development of the new infantry fighting vehicle is
marked by technological extremes. It will not only be
the new transport platform for the German Army but also
a cutting-edge technology system. With its unique balance
of tactical and strategic mobility, survivability and
lethality, the PUMA gives the German Armed Forces a state-of-the-art
infantry fighting vehicle systematically tailored to the
current and future operational requirements of the German
military both at home and abroad. The development achievement
was guided by the demand to induce latest mission experience
from current operations and to consequently deliver effective
mission performance. To that extent this has not been
realized in any other infantry fighting vehicle.
The PUMA is scheduled to undergo an intense round of testing
and verification. This includes extreme summer and winter
trials abroad. The complex preparations are deemed to
ensure the smooth introduction of the system to the German
Army.
PUMA
sets the new standard – maximum protection for the
crew, fire power, mobility and networked operations.
No comparable vehicle provides its crew with such a high
level of protection from typical conflict zone threats
such as landmines, rocket propelled grenades and improvised
explosive devices. Well-protected yet light enough to
airlift, the PUMA's modularity and expandability make
it the perfect tool for international conflict management.
The PUMA, whose main armament and ammunition had to be
modified to match the altered threat spectrum, represents
the ultimate in lethality and survivability.
Today,
more than thirty years after Germany first fielded the
MARDER, the PUMA is poised to significantly expand the
Bundeswehr's capabilities spectrum, providing it with
an entirely new category of tactical vehicle. In any international
comparison, the PUMA clearly represents the cutting edge
in contemporary armoured vehicle technology.
