Germany Puts The Puma Under The Microscope
By Nicholas Fiorenza .
Serial production of the Puma armored infantry fighting vehicle (AIFV) is ramping up for delivery—albeit of a reduced number—to the German army. Several Pumas have been delivered to the Bundesamt fur Wehrtechnik und Beschaffung (BWB), Germany's federal agency for defense technology and procurement, and to the army's armor school in Munster in preparation for its introduction into army service in the next two years. Puma will replace the 30-year-old Marder AIFV, which is being phased out. In July 2009, the BWB ordered 410 Pumas, including five pre-serial production versions, but under the restructuring of the Bundeswehr, the German armed forces, the final requirement has been reduced to 350, a figure which was agreed with industry at the end of 2011 ...