Germany has awarded Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and
Rheinmetall a nearly $1.2 billion deal for the delivery of 50 more Puma infantry fighting vehicles, the companies said on Monday.
Deliveries of the new vehicles, which will be built to the upgraded S1 model, are set to begin in December 2025 and continue through early 2027.
Photo: Rheinmetall AG
“The most advanced and effective system of its kind, the Puma infantry fighting vehicle is the principal weapons system of the German Army’s mechanized infantry,” KMW and Rheinmetall said in a statement. “In addition to its modular, highly effective force protection technology, the Puma possesses a unique level of battlefield lethality, coupled with an outstanding network-enabled operations capability.”
The two companies build the Puma IFVs as the Projekt System & Management GmbH (PSM) joint venture, noting that $622.42 million will go to KMW and $543.27 million to Rheinmetall under this new deal.
Along with the 50 Puma vehicles, the companies noted the new deal also includes eight MELSS simulators and spare part packages.
“Furthermore, an option exists for additional driver training vehicles and the integration of a turret-independent secondary weapon system, or TSWA,” the companies said.
The new deal follows a February 2023 order from the German government for the companies to upgrade 143 Puma IFVs in the current inventory to the new S1 standard.
“The upgrade, to be completed in 2029, includes among other things the integration of high-resolution day- and night-capable camera systems, the MELLS multirole lightweight guided missile system as well as the integration of digital radio equipment,” the companies said in their statement.