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The new Infantry Fighting Vehicle Puma: An investment in security |
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(Source: Rheinmetall De-Tec; web-posted Nov. 9, 2004)
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A new chapter in the history of the German army industry was opened with the decision in favour of the new Bundeswehr IFV. With the Puma the Army receives a top-notch product made by the German army technology industry, which through this comprehensive new development demonstrates again its top position internationally in important competence areas.
The contract for development of a new IFV for the Bundeswehr was awarded to Project System and Management (PSM), Kassel. PSM is a 50/50 joint venture between Rheinmetall Landsysteme, Kiel and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW), Munich–two leading European army technology companies with extensive knowledge in the development and production of lighter as well as heavier armoured vehicles.
Why a new IFV?
The army transformation process demands changes at all levels, particularly in terms of capabilities and equipment. With this new task profile, which covers both peacekeeping as well as peace-enforcement missions in the international environment, new capabilities will be indispensable in order to give German soldiers far away from home the highest possible protection on one side and also to guarantee corresponding battlefield dominance on the other.
In this respect the Puma is a key project in the German Army's planning. The Marder IFV–still in service with the Bundeswehr after more than 30 years–will only be able to cope with the new demands in a qualified way. It is to be replaced by the Puma from 2009. For demanding military missions in the context of UN, NATO, or EU mandates, the Marder is increasingly clearly demonstrating the following capability deficits:
--poor ballistic protection
--poor engine performance
--insufficient effectiveness through too inferior firepower and
--limited command capability
The Puma will close these capability gaps in a convincing way. The fundamental demands which were placed on the development of the new IFV, include, amongst others:
--maximum protection of the crew,
--air transportability of the Puma in the future A400M transport aircraft,
--quick availability in maximum protection level in the area of operation,
--a modularity, which makes easy equipping and replacement of more elementary systems possible,
--the creation of a modern coherent interior for the vehicle crew, which takes into account the high demands for command, communication, protection and ergonomics.
The Puma fulfils all these demands. With these capability components, the Army will have at its disposal a state-of-the-art product in the medium forces area, which is a leader internationally and offers the soldier in operation a highest possible performance capability.
Best possible protection
In order to master the challenge of demanded highest possible protection in conjunction with guaranteed air transportability (A400M), PSM has developed a new concept. Up to now, a high protection level in comparable systems has in principle resulted in a high overall weight, with corresponding limitations in terms of transport possibilities.
The Puma's recipe for success is a completely newly conceptualised two-stage protection level concept. The Puma's air transportability is guaranteed in a basic version with Protection Level A (Airtransportable), which guarantees the most effective mine protection world-wide.
Through easy to attach additional equipment, an increase to the considerably more extensive Protection Level C (Combat) using additional protection modules is carried out in the area of operation. These armoured modules are fixed to the flanks of the vehicle and are hinged, so that even with maximum Level C protection rail-loading capability is still guaranteed.
With these protection modules the crew receives protection against attacks from hand-held anti-tank weapons, 30 mm machine guns and bomblets. Its mine protection is highly effective against blast and projectile-forming mines. For air transport in the military Airbus A400M a weight reduction to 31.45 tons is achieved through the simple disassembly of the flank protection modules.
Optimum use of space coupled with ergonomic excellence
When it comes to ergonomics, the interior of the infantry fighting vehicle corresponds to the most exacting requirements for ergonomics.
The crew of the Puma occupies a single, unified space–a crucial prerequisite for the effective optimization of all operational and control sequences, up to and including application of the IFV's weapon systems.
By eliminating the basket, a cube-shaped internal space results, easily enabling the crew and its equipment to be accommodated without compromise. Moreover, the division of space offers major advantages with respect to communication, ensuring that crewmembers can understand each other at all times.
Enormous mobility and flexibility
Through the new protection concept developed by PSM the logistic expense of air transport of the vehicle including additional equipment is minimised. It is possible to transport four vehicles including complete protection equipment in five A400M aircraft, whereby one aircraft transports the Puma's protection modules as well as additional equipment.
Protection Level A, the basic configuration with a 31.45 tons transport weight, guarantees that the Puma is operationally-ready immediately after unloading. Protection Level C for full combat-readiness is available after a short add-on time. A theoretical scenario that makes this maximum protection necessary immediately after roll out from the aircraft, is not realistic: because the landing of the transport aircraft already requires the military securing of the landing zone.
The heart of the matter: A newly developed HPD-engine
The Puma will be driven by an ambitious new development: The so-called 10-cylinder High-Power Density (HPD) 890-series engine is distinguished by its small size and its reduced weight at the same time as having enormous performance power. With a power-to-weight-ratio of some 20 kW/t (27 PS/t, in Protection Level C), a completely new dimension in tank construction is developed.
The new type HPD-engine is a key component in the overall conception of the Puma. The reduced space requirement leads to a reduction in weight, which is to the benefit of the full exploitation of the vehicle's limited total weight with the increase in protection. In the past, the engine's construction size was a problematical quantity in the construction of new vehicles, because at the same time space for the crew and for suitable protection was lost. Here a new path is being trod with the Puma.
Reduced-weight five-wheel track-mechanism
The Puma's decoupled running gear is extremely quiet, substantially reducing the level of noise in the fighting compartment and the impact of vibration on both the equipment and crew. In this important element of the IFV, too, reduced weight plays an important role: featuring five road wheels, the optimized steel tracks weigh significantly less, without however impairing the Puma's operational effectiveness.
Remote-controlled turret
The newly developed remote-controlled turret was chosen in order to reduce the amount of area to be protected. With its turret adaptation–no longer a turret basket–the vehicle is shortened and volume and weight are saved. The Puma's functionality increases very considerably through the turret adaptation: because the commander is put in the position of reconnoitring the enemy position using allround sensors, whilst at the same time the gunner effectively combats the target using target sensors.
360 degree glass optics
All-around sight is ensured through a 360-degree glass optic with round view periscope. The weapon optic allows for stabilised day and night vision, it includes a laser range-finder as well as an integrated direct sight which makes possible a 360-degree view independent of the position of the turret.
The crew has a 360° all-around view by periscopes. In addition there are mounted a rear-view camera and four '0-lux' cameras as an optronic expansion to the infantry troops' direct view.
Forward-looking in weapons and ammunition
The Puma's main armament is a 30 mm MK30-2 'Air Burst Munition' (ABM) machine gun. Its design is based on the already existing, proven MK30-2 weapon, expanded by the new developed Ahead technology (Advanced Hit Efficiency and Destruction).
The combination of the programmable 30 mm automated fuse in accordance with the Ahead-principle, means a high measure of combat power is achieved. Because when exiting the tube the ammunition is informed of the moment for the ejection of a defined number of sub-projectiles before reaching the target. Hit probability at greater distance and against smaller targets can therefore be increased. Through this principle a variety of types of target can be effectively combated with only one type of ammunition.
Command and weapon-use
The means for modern task and mission-management are realised in the Puma. That means amongst other things the integration of command and weapon-use systems, which provide relevant battle and situation information, close to time, up to the group vehicle level. Further to that, the Puma has available two redundant work places with two independent target and observation resources, which leads to a considerable reduction in reaction time.
The vehicle concept
The vehicle concept, which is without equal worldwide, captivates through numerous distinguishing features. All are an expression of the Puma's revolutionary design and take into account the high demands of future users.
The most important guideline for the Puma-development is to achieve the 'highest quality and best possible protection with minimised weight'. These will be the outstanding characteristics of the Puma.
-ends-
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