SPz Puma IFV with 30mm MK 30-2 autocannon (42 HQ Photos)

SPz Puma IFV with 30mm MK 30-2 autocannon (42 HQ Photos)

 

The Marder (German for “marten”) is a German infantry fighting vehicle operated by the German Army as the main weapon of the Panzergrenadiere (mechanized infantry) from the 1970s through the present day. Developed as part of the rebuilding of Germany’s armoured fighting vehicle industry, the Marder has proven to be a successful and solid infantry fighting vehicle design. The Marder is currently being replaced by its successor, the Puma.

The German PSM group, the manufacturer of the Puma armoured infantry fighting vehicle.

PSM Projekt System & Management GmbH is a 50:50 partnership established by the two German leaders in combat vehicles ? Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall. The group was founded specifically to manage the German Puma procurement project on the contractor side.

Among the vehicle’s unique attributes are its effective modular protection concept, a remote-control, stabilized turret armed with an ABM capable 30mm automatic cannon, and decoupled running gear with hydro-pneumatic shock absorber elements. The vehicle is powered by the newly developed MTU diesel engine developing 800 kW of power. The vehicle delivered to the Bundeswehr are fitted as ‘network-enabled warfare capabable’, provided with battle management systems and supporting ‘future soldier systems’ and digital communications equipment. In addition to their combat capabilities, the vehicles can also be operated in ‘training mode’, providing an autonomous training platform, functioning as a realistic combat simulator for crew and unit training. Multiple vehicles can also be networked, makes it possible to connect up to four vehicles in a training formation.