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April-2014
PUMA SHARPENS ITS CLAWS IN UAE
Toughest testing for Germany’s new armored infantry vehicle
German land forces are introducing a new armored infantry vehicle, AIFV Puma, as successor to the AIFV Marder currently in use in Afghanistan and the UAE has been extensively involved in aspects of its development.
The final exacting hot climate testing was carried out in the UAE. The UAE military also acted for the first time on a contract basis as ‘host nation support element’and was responsible for all logistics – from customs clearance to transport, from catering to repairs.
And the general maintenance corps advised their German counterparts in certain areas and supported and worked with the visiting troops during the period of testing.
Germany traditionally conducted its hot climate tests in the US. This was the first time it selected another country for this purpose.
German Military Attaché in Abu Dhabi, Hans-Jürgen Lauer, said: “Initially the Bundeswehr was only looking for an alternative. But given the strategic partnership between Germany and the UAE and the outstanding ad-hoc assistance and excellent efficiency of the UAE in the restoration of our Frigate Bayern in 2011 while it was operating in the region, the UAE became clear choice.
“Furthermore, the very demanding, diverse environmental and climate conditions offer the most extreme and therefore the best situations for an authentic analysis of competence. Ultimately, the aim is to facilitate the best execution of military missions and the greatest protection of our troops.
“We assessed that nowhere else would we have been able to find better conditions for the successful testing of the Puma than in the UAE. The difficult climate conditions challenged the Puma in all respects.
The logistics and assistance of the armed forces and the GMC was highly professional and the hospitality unrivaled!”
Gratitude Expressed
The Federal German Minister of Defense came to the same conclusion and expressed his gratitude in a personal letter thanking the UAE and its armed forces for the excellent assistance and high degrees of professionalism.
The current AIFV Marder was developed in the sixties and its first version distributed to the German Armed Forces in the seventies. It is now being replaced by the new PUMA vehicle which is produced via a joint venture between Kraus MaffaiWegmann and Rheinmetall.
Excellent firepower and mobility are the major prerequisites of Germany’s military to the defense industry to ensure the ultimate protection of its troops. System capabilities for network operations during close combat and infantry combat by their rifle squads are also of great importance.
The main areas tested in the UAE were: dependability and capability of the air-conditioning unit, susceptibility to trouble and the target accuracy of the weapons, functioning and effectiveness of the Multifunctional Self-Protection System (MUSS), and effectiveness and upkeep of the motor and chassis in various forms of sandy and mountainous terrain. In 2006, EADS Defence Electronics was awarded a contract for the MUSS for the Puma vehicles. MUSS can handle four threats at the same time.
There were 100 experts from German industry, army and military test units of the Bundeswehr in Abu Dhabi for the testing. All parties reported they were extremely satisfied with the test results in every facet. Several important findings materialized which will be incorporated in the final technical modifications and instructions for the AIFV Puma before it is introduced to the troops.
Efficiency And Cooperation
The exercise resulted in the German troops experiencing first-hand the high quality of efficiency and cooperation of the UAE’s armed forces. And the UAE military garnered unlimited insight into the technical aspects and the potential of the Puma despite it not being on the market yet.
The UAE was also made aware of the scientific and military methods of German material testing which does not differ from that of the highly-regarded German automobile industry. However, the main factor was the strengthening of mutual cooperation, skills and friendship between both forces.
The basic level one, 31,45t, (Weight, level A (Air-transportable by A400M, Gross vehicle weight (GVW): 43.0 t) version of the vehicle provides protection against explosively formed projectile mines, top attack artillery projectiles and has all-round protection against 14.5mm kinetic energy rounds and RPG-7 rocket propelled grenades.
The vehicle is armed with a remote controlled weapon station, developed by Kraus-MaffeiWegmann, which is fitted with a dual-feed Mauser 30mm MK 30-2 cannon. It has a rate of fire of 700 rounds-per-minute and a range of up to three kilometres.
Even before the AIFV PUMA has been delivered to the German Armed Forces, the media has lavished high praise on it.
“The Puma is a key element in the Bundeswehr process of transformation from a defensive army to a task force and will remain in service with the Bundeswehr as the backbone of the German Army. It is therefore important that the PUMA is designed with a future-proof concept.” – Army Guide
“The Puma is the most protected IFV currently available. It has a welded armor hull with add-on modular armor. It has an option of three various protection levels to suit operational needs.” - Military Today•
PUMA SHARPENS ITS CLAWS IN UAE
Toughest testing for Germany’s new armored infantry vehicle
German land forces are introducing a new armored infantry vehicle, AIFV Puma, as successor to the AIFV Marder currently in use in Afghanistan and the UAE has been extensively involved in aspects of its development.
The final exacting hot climate testing was carried out in the UAE. The UAE military also acted for the first time on a contract basis as ‘host nation support element’and was responsible for all logistics – from customs clearance to transport, from catering to repairs.
And the general maintenance corps advised their German counterparts in certain areas and supported and worked with the visiting troops during the period of testing.
Germany traditionally conducted its hot climate tests in the US. This was the first time it selected another country for this purpose.
German Military Attaché in Abu Dhabi, Hans-Jürgen Lauer, said: “Initially the Bundeswehr was only looking for an alternative. But given the strategic partnership between Germany and the UAE and the outstanding ad-hoc assistance and excellent efficiency of the UAE in the restoration of our Frigate Bayern in 2011 while it was operating in the region, the UAE became clear choice.
“Furthermore, the very demanding, diverse environmental and climate conditions offer the most extreme and therefore the best situations for an authentic analysis of competence. Ultimately, the aim is to facilitate the best execution of military missions and the greatest protection of our troops.
“We assessed that nowhere else would we have been able to find better conditions for the successful testing of the Puma than in the UAE. The difficult climate conditions challenged the Puma in all respects.
The logistics and assistance of the armed forces and the GMC was highly professional and the hospitality unrivaled!”
Gratitude Expressed
The Federal German Minister of Defense came to the same conclusion and expressed his gratitude in a personal letter thanking the UAE and its armed forces for the excellent assistance and high degrees of professionalism.
The current AIFV Marder was developed in the sixties and its first version distributed to the German Armed Forces in the seventies. It is now being replaced by the new PUMA vehicle which is produced via a joint venture between Kraus MaffaiWegmann and Rheinmetall.
Excellent firepower and mobility are the major prerequisites of Germany’s military to the defense industry to ensure the ultimate protection of its troops. System capabilities for network operations during close combat and infantry combat by their rifle squads are also of great importance.
The main areas tested in the UAE were: dependability and capability of the air-conditioning unit, susceptibility to trouble and the target accuracy of the weapons, functioning and effectiveness of the Multifunctional Self-Protection System (MUSS), and effectiveness and upkeep of the motor and chassis in various forms of sandy and mountainous terrain. In 2006, EADS Defence Electronics was awarded a contract for the MUSS for the Puma vehicles. MUSS can handle four threats at the same time.
There were 100 experts from German industry, army and military test units of the Bundeswehr in Abu Dhabi for the testing. All parties reported they were extremely satisfied with the test results in every facet. Several important findings materialized which will be incorporated in the final technical modifications and instructions for the AIFV Puma before it is introduced to the troops.
Efficiency And Cooperation
The exercise resulted in the German troops experiencing first-hand the high quality of efficiency and cooperation of the UAE’s armed forces. And the UAE military garnered unlimited insight into the technical aspects and the potential of the Puma despite it not being on the market yet.
The UAE was also made aware of the scientific and military methods of German material testing which does not differ from that of the highly-regarded German automobile industry. However, the main factor was the strengthening of mutual cooperation, skills and friendship between both forces.
The basic level one, 31,45t, (Weight, level A (Air-transportable by A400M, Gross vehicle weight (GVW): 43.0 t) version of the vehicle provides protection against explosively formed projectile mines, top attack artillery projectiles and has all-round protection against 14.5mm kinetic energy rounds and RPG-7 rocket propelled grenades.
The vehicle is armed with a remote controlled weapon station, developed by Kraus-MaffeiWegmann, which is fitted with a dual-feed Mauser 30mm MK 30-2 cannon. It has a rate of fire of 700 rounds-per-minute and a range of up to three kilometres.
Even before the AIFV PUMA has been delivered to the German Armed Forces, the media has lavished high praise on it.
“The Puma is a key element in the Bundeswehr process of transformation from a defensive army to a task force and will remain in service with the Bundeswehr as the backbone of the German Army. It is therefore important that the PUMA is designed with a future-proof concept.” – Army Guide
“The Puma is the most protected IFV currently available. It has a welded armor hull with add-on modular armor. It has an option of three various protection levels to suit operational needs.” - Military Today•
