Puma Armored Vehicle Upgrades Announced Despite Previous Defects

Upgrades Underway for Puma Armored Vehicles
Various Equipment and Performance Enhancements
Last Year’s Puma Defect Controversy Revisited

With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, most European countries have once again embarked on a large-scale rearmament. Nations that had abandoned armament are either importing many weapons like Poland or, like Germany, carrying out refurbishments on their existing weapons. Germany, in particular, is reclaiming its traditional status as a military powerhouse.

Germany recently announced plans to upgrade its main IFV, the Puma armored vehicle. However, in this process, the issue of the massive defect that occurred during last year’s training with the Puma armored vehicle has resurfaced. Let’s take a look at this upgrade and the defect issue today.

The New S1 Version
A Superior Armored Vehicle

The 143 Puma armored vehicles undergoing this upgrade will receive the name Puma S1, which includes increased firepower and advanced capabilities. This consists of the MELLS multi-purpose lightweight guided missile system, high-resolution day and night camera systems, and integrated digital radio equipment.

Even before the upgrade, the Puma armored vehicle was a formidable tank. It matches the mobility of the K-1 tank, which is over twice as mobile, and experts say its defense is on par with the Namer armored vehicle, known for its best-in-class defense. It also features a 30mm unmanned turret machine gun and can be equipped with Spike anti-tank missiles.

The Defect that Occurred Last Year
It Wasn’t a Big Issue

The Puma armored vehicle, known as one of the most expensive tanks in the world due to its superior performance, had defects in all 18 units deployed during German Federal Armed Forces training last December. The cause was electrical component defects, leading to leakage and consumable defects.

However, later revelations showed that of the 18 Pumas with defects, 17 had only minor malfunctions. Instead, the problem was not the Puma armored vehicle but the German military’s poor management and operation. The leading cause identified was that the armored vehicles, despite breakdowns, could not receive proper measures because they lacked access to maintenance personnel or parts.