Report: Germany Expands Puma IFV Fleet as Part of Historic Military Overhaul

Armyrecognition reports that Germany intends to purchase additional Puma infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) toward the end of the decade, in a deal valued at €1.48 billion. This procurement is part of Germany’s broader rearmament initiative, aimed at strengthening mechanized units and upgrading the Bundeswehr in response to the current geopolitical instability in Europe.

The Puma IFV is the primary vehicle of Germany’s mechanized infantry forces. It combines multiple combat functions—including troop transport, fire support, and digital battlefield reconnaissance—within a single advanced platform. The vehicle is jointly manufactured by German defense giants Rheinmetall and KMW.

In terms of armament, the Puma is equipped with a 30mm MK30-2/ABM automatic cannon, twin launchers for Israeli Rafael Spike LR anti-tank guided missiles, and a coaxial 5.56mm machine gun. It also features the MUSS 2.0 soft-kill active protection system, designed to detect and neutralize incoming anti-tank missiles using directional countermeasures.

According to Armyrecognition, the original 2009 contract for Puma vehicles covered 405 units, later revised to 350 vehicles, all delivered by 2021. In June 2021, Germany signed a €1.04 billion contract to upgrade 154 Pumas, followed in 2023 by another €770 million contract to upgrade 143 more. In May 2023, a €1.1 billion deal was signed for the delivery of 50 new vehicles, bringing the total number delivered to date to 400.

Long criticized for underinvestment in its defense sector, Germany is now undergoing its most ambitious rearmament effort since World War II. Alongside the Puma program, the Bundeswehr is acquiring Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks, upgrading PzH 2000 howitzers, expanding air defense capabilities, and investing heavily in electronic warfare, logistics, and digital command infrastructure. The goal is to transform the German army into a fully digital, rapid-deployment force structured around combat brigades capable of conducting large-scale operations under NATO command.

Armyrecognition notes that the Puma project is central to this transformation. As the backbone of Germany’s mechanized infantry, the Puma ensures the Bundeswehr remains operationally dominant on future European battlefields. These capabilities also reinforce Germany’s commitment to NATO and its strategic leadership role in defending the alliance’s eastern flank.