Upgraded German Puma IFV deliveries delayed

Delivery of the first upgraded Pumas for the German Army has been delayed from the end of 2023 to the end of February 2024 . (Bundeswehr/Marco Dorow)

The German Federal Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on 27 November that deliveries of upgraded Puma infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) have been delayed. The ministry noted that the Bundeswehr was to receive the first upgraded Pumas for the German Army by the end of 2023 but the necessary work, especially on software, should be completed in February 2024, delaying the delivery of the first vehicles to the end of that month.

The MoD, Germany's Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr: BAAINBw), and the German Army were engaged in a “close and constructive exchange” with industry, the MoD said, adding that the essential requirements for planned testing, training, and exercises have been met.

The BAAINBw awarded a contract to Rheinmetall-Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) 50/50 joint venture Projekt System & Management (PSM) in June 2021 to upgrade 154 German Army Pumas and exercised options to modernise 143 more in April 2023. The BAAINBw awarded PSM another contract for 50 more Pumas in May 2023, with an option for 179 more.

A Rheinmetall spokesperson on 28 November confirmed to Janes the content of the German MoD statement but declined to comment further. KMW+Nexter Defense Systems (KNDS) also declined to comment.