A Bundeswehr’s A400M Atlas transport aircraft has successfully airlifted the heavyweight Puma infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), a historic first that boosts Germany’s rapid response tactics.
To meet the A400M’s maximum payload of about 37 tonnes (81,600 pounds) during the test, the Puma was configured as a class A vehicle weighing 31.4 tons. This included temporarily removing its modular armor, the MUSS active protection system, and reactive panels to reduce weight and fit it through the aircraft’s loading hatch.
The German Air Force, Army, the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw), along with Rheinmetall and Airbus, tested the platforms at the Wunstorf Air Base.
Puma IFV
Developed by the Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall Landsysteme joint venture, the Puma measures 7.6 meters (24.9 feet) long, 3.9 meters (12.7 feet) wide, and 3.6 meters (11.8 feet) high, with a ground clearance of 0.45 meters (1.47 feet) for off-road mobility.
The vehicle can climb vertical steps up to 0.8 meters (2.6 feet), cross trenches 2.5 meters (8.2 feet) wide, and ford water up to 1.2 meters (3.9 feet) deep without additional preparation.
Powered by a 1,073-horsepower (800-kilowatt) engine, the Puma moves at a top road speed of 70 kilometers per hour (43.5 miles per hour) and 30 kilometers per hour (18.6 miles per hour) in reverse.
It accommodates a crew of nine, comprising three operators and six infantry passengers.
The Puma is equipped with an unmanned, remote-controlled turret. Meanwhile, its main armament is a 30mm MK30-2/ABM autocannon supported by a 5.56mm MG4 machine gun and SPIKE LR anti-tank guided missiles.
The trial makes the Puma IFV the heaviest load ever carried by the Atlas aircraft.
As the Puma has primarily been deployed via road or rail, this airlift milestone expands Berlin’s potential for rapid deployment capabilities and supports NATO’s strategies for enhanced deterrence across Europe.
