Why Puma IFV Failed its Combat Test

The German Army's Puma is known as the best Infantry Fighting Vehicle in the world while at the same time being plagued with development problems. Its an armored personnel carrier armed with a 30mm autocannon unmanned turret.

The troop transport is a relic from the Cold War era and the war in Afghanistan. The German Military is working hard to get it ready by 2029 and hopes to export it to as many NATO countries as possible. It failed its combat test in 2020 so what's really gone on here? Can it be fixed? Find out in this video.

#ARMOR #TANK #INFANTRY

Sources:

Arma 3 video game footage with mods

Task & Purpose is a military news and culture oriented channel. We want to foster positive discussion about the defense industry.

[Taskandpurpose]

Do you think the Puma IFV will become extinct or will it become the primary infantry battlefield transportation?

[anirbande]

"Millions of dollars over budget" is the motto of every military project ever.

[nekomakhea]

"Only soldiers of a specific height may enter this vehicle"
Thus microlads became microkings

[holgermessner]

It's not only the German weapon industry with this problems. I was a Marder Infantry commander (1983-1986) and in one 3 week training, Americans showed up with the brand new Bradley Infantry tank. Same electronic problems. They did fire one shot for 4 days. IT guys and electronics guys jumped in and out. It was a disaster for them. On the 5 day, if I remember that right, they finally got some shots away but not like us. The whole 3 weeks they had the "special guys" in the back sitting to jump in with laptops and after hours coming out calling it a day. My 2 cent.

[Heretic]

The Puma S1 was actually declared "combat ready" after some modifications in 2021.

[thegloriousretardmagnet]

So basically, it’s the perfect IFV and the only downside is the delayed development and increased cost. Things that always happen with weapons development

[robertalaverdov]

I think with the size limitations the US army needs to redesign the vehicle a bit and call it the Cougar. That way the whole squad can ride the Cougar.

[MHalblaub]

One neat feature of the Puma IFV is its simulator. The Puma itself is the simulator. There is a simulator plug-in device and several Pumas can play together with an additional container sized workplace for trainer and computer.

[BrutusAlbion]

‎”I fear not the man who has designed 10, 000 different tanks, but I fear the man who has designed and iterated one tank 10, 000 times.” - Sun Tzu when commenting on Modern Warfare with Rommel and Patton while sipping on his Matcha Tea Latte

[nickyan]

It fits a squad. The crew and the soldiers in the back are the squad (Panzergrenadiergruppe). They function as unit. A german IFV is not just a battle taxi.

[hoelle]

I served in the Bundeswehr from 2001 to 2013, as a Panzergrenadier Officer (mechanized infantry). I had the pleasure to command a Marder Company for two years. It Was really great. We always jolked, that the Puma will be put into Service in October, only the actual year was unclear.
I loved riding and shooting the Marder. But all I heared so far from my old Comrades, who fought in Afghanistan with the Marder and are now put on the Puma is, rhat the Puma is just amazing.
The Bundeswehr die several training runs with Puma companies fighting against top of the notch Marder Companies, and the Puma ripped em a new one.
The also did a combat simulation Old Pumas vs New Pumas (better communication and live map systems) and the found that the New Puma was 18% more efdective than the old Puma.
Too make a long story short, modern Military equipment is meant to be updated, even the old Panzer 4 had several updates back in the day. And nowadays, with all the technology Updates every year (just Check your Phone, how old is it) its ver assuring to know, that the New Puma can be upgraded any time.
My only concern, being an old Marder guy, is the remote controlled turret. If its broken or even the Munition is gone, you've got some issues. With the Marder you could put New rounds imto the magazine without exiting the vehicle.

[bassmithbassist]

Hey Chris. Never been in the military but have a number of friends who were. Ground pounders in Iraq and Afghanistan, they told me the horror stories about having Bradley's, Strykers, Het's, etc blown up with them inside. All while waiting on the powers that be to authorize that next upgrade. I think that you are spot on in your assessment of the Puma and it's developmental challenges. I also think that the Puma or a Puma like vehicle is the way forward. That muzzle brake fuze setter is really slick!!!
I also like your ground level work from the front. You keep it real. No self centeredness. Just an honest report about a topic that needs to be talked Keep it up

[MikaPlaysCoolGames]

About the height thing, the german doctrine for IFVs or Schützenpanzer is different to the us‘s. The Panzergrenadiere belong to one ifv and are supposed to work together with the armored units. You specifically apply as panzergrenadier and if you‘re to big, you cant enlist as one

[nagasako]

"It Takes 20 years to perfect a new vehicle"
That's why most Militaries and Insurgencies just use Toyota Hilux with a 12.7mm Soviet Machine gun.

[MK-xcto]

Something worth mention is, that orginally was planned to build 1000 PUMA IFV, this was downsized to 350, now upgraded to 500 . Research and Development Costs stays the same = per Unit R+D costs trippled or with the new Order at least doubbled what makes the Unit more expensive . Every new Order will be cheaper because R+D Costs of the project are already compensated .

[HenryAusLuebeck]

I was a gunner on the Schützenpanzer Marder and I'm jealous of the Puma crews. The Puma has to be a fantastic vehicle. I was told that I am too tall for the Spz at 1.80m, but it worked great

[abraham]

The Puma got a huge improvement program a few months ago, after wich it excelled at the battle campaign. The problems were solved and the vehicle now is absolutely reliable (at least as far as the Bundeswehr and the Pumas' creators say). The limited number of soldiers come from the very special fighting style of the german "Panzergrenadiers". All in all, it seems like the Germans wanted *their* perfect IFV at all costs, no matter how long it takes.

[FortuneZer]

Rhein mental and Kraus's I couldnt hold laughter.

[DeepSpaceIndustriesLOL]

Me a warthunder player when I hear Germany making another puma… P A N I C

[miskakopperoinen]

Being millions of dollars over the design budget sounds like a massive problem until you remember that the unit price is likely multiple millions. If the budget overflow is indeed measured in millions, not in tens or hundreds of millions, either developing new AFVs is significantly cheaper than I have expected or the initial budget was actually fairly accurate.