At 730 million euros, the Panzergrenadier system was the largest item in the 25 million euro proposals that passed parliament at the end of June 2019. The Federal Office for Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) has now concluded the necessary contracts with industry. The Puma working group – a merger of the Puma manufacturer PSM Projekt System Management and Rheinmetall Electronics – was commissioned to carry out a significant portion of the work. PSM is a joint venture that Rheinmetall and Krauss Maffei-Wegmann founded in 2002 for the development and production of the Puma.
In the more than twenty years since Puma development began, the security policy framework and operational requirements have changed and the technologies have evolved. For the planned deployment of the Panzergrenadiers in the NATO spearhead Very High Joint Readiness Task Force 2023 (VJTF 2023), the soldier equipment Infantryman of the Future Extended System (IdZ - ES) and the Puma infantry fighting vehicle are the core elements of the Panzergrenadier system. This system is now being adapted and supplemented according to the changed requirements and possibilities. With the target deployment date of 2023, the provision of the equipment is under considerable time pressure.
Rheinmetall alone is contributing 470 million euros to the order package.
For use in VJTF 2023, 41 Puma infantry fighting vehicles will receive extensive combat performance upgrades as well as further measures to improve the networking of infantry fighting vehicles and dismounted armored infantry. The total value of this order for Rheinmetall amounts to 258.3 million euros. The systems will be delivered at the end of 2020/beginning of 2021 and will then be available for training and certification of the troops.
To improve their leadership ability, the Puma will receive new day vision and thermal imaging cameras as well as color displays. The optimized day and night vision increases the reconnaissance range and gives the crew an extended field of vision. Closely linked to this is the “chassis visibility improvement” for 67.2 million euros, the development of which has already started. New digital radios and the uniform command and information system (Battle Management System, BMS) “TacNet” will become the basis for the Puma crew’s communication with the dismounted Panzergrenadiers, the neighboring AFVs and the next higher management levels.
The firepower with 30 mm airburst cannon and coaxial machine guns is expanded by equipping EuroSpike's multi-role light guided missile system (MELLS). This gives the Cougars a significant skill boost.
In addition, the order includes the complete logistical supply of the VJTF Pumas over a period of five years. This includes spare parts and special tools as well as spare parts logistics.
With VJTF in mind, Rheinmetall Electronics has further developed the soldier system IdZ – ES. In the K-Stand VJTF 2023, the electronic back has been replaced by a universal USB hub, which makes it easier to adapt to different operational requirements. A new tablet computer for system control and visual communications as well as digital radios - both in conjunction with TacNet - improve capabilities in networked combat. Ten train systems are to be provided for the VJTF. 146.5 million euros are earmarked for this. Thanks to better networking, the Puma crew and the dismounted rifle squad receive the same up-to-date and comprehensive picture of the situation. In this way, Rheinmetall contributes to the leadership ability of the Panzergrenadiers, from individual riflemen to company commanders.The complete innovations of the soldier system IdZ-ES K-Stand VJTF 2023 can be viewed here.
For the remaining Puma series vehicles (which are not prepared for VJTF), five sets of initial sample assemblies will initially be manufactured and integrated into five series vehicles. This work is scheduled to be completed by 2022. Evidence will then be provided to the defense technical departments by 2023 as a prerequisite for converting the series vehicles.
The digitalization of the visual means also goes hand in hand with the implementation of the NGVA (NATO Generic Vehicle Architecture) in the Puma. It forms the foundation for the future topic of “Sensor to Shooter”. The networking of the sensors and effectors of an individual vehicle, which has now begun, will soon enable the networking of the sensors and effectors of entire units and associations. This makes the Puma one of the first digitized combat vehicles in the world.
Gerhard Heiming
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