The German Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) has signed a major contract for the procurement of 200 additional Puma Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) in order to enhance the operational strength of its armored units. The agreement, signed with PSM GmbH—a joint venture of Rheinmetall and KNDS Deutschland—covers a total budget of €4.2 billion. Under this strategic deal, which will gain legal validity in January 2026, the budget will be shared equally between the project’s main contractors, KNDS and Rheinmetall. Deliveries of the vehicles are scheduled to begin in mid-2028, and they will play a key role in the modernization goals of the German land forces.
Next-Generation Capabilities and UAV Defense Systems
The new vehicles to be procured under the contract will not only increase numbers but will also be equipped to respond to current threats through advanced technological upgrades. With the planned “S2 configuration status” modification in mid-2026, the aim is to eliminate technological obsolescence in the vehicles and integrate up-to-date capabilities into the system. Among these upgrades, the most notable is the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) defense capability to be developed based on the turret of the Jackal armored vehicle. In addition, the contract also secures the procurement of critical protection modules as well as storage containers required for logistical support, alongside the vehicles themselves.
Modernization of the Existing Puma Fleet in Inventory
In addition to new orders, the German Army continues to upgrade the capabilities of the vehicles already in its inventory to the S1 series standard. The modernization program carried out by BAAINBw, which is planned to be completed in 2029, aims to bring 297 Puma vehicles to the highest technological level. As part of this comprehensive process, high-resolution day and night vision camera systems, the Multi-Role Light Guided Missile System (MELLS), and digital radio equipment are being integrated into the vehicles. With a crew capacity of nine personnel, the Puma IFV thus continues to be one of the world’s most advanced armored infantry platforms, maintaining its network-centric warfare capability.
Source: C4Defence / Rheinmetall
