Bundeswehr Expands Mechanised Infantry Capability
Germany commissions Rheinmetall and KNDS Deutschland to deliver additional Puma infantry fighting vehicles to reinforce armoured infantry capacity and address obsolescence through staged upgrades.
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Bundeswehr has signed an amendment to its existing framework agreement to procure 200 additional Puma infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs). The contract was concluded through Projekt System & Management GmbH, a joint venture between Rheinmetall and KNDS Deutschland, at the Federal Office for Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support of the Bundeswehr (BAAINBw) in Koblenz. The contract is scheduled to enter into legal force in January 2026.
Contract scope, value, and delivery timeline
The total gross value of the procurement is approximately €4.2 billion, split evenly between the two industrial partners. Rheinmetall’s share will be executed through its subsidiary Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH, while KNDS Deutschland will deliver its portion as a subcontractor under the PSM structure.
Deliveries of the newly ordered vehicles are planned to begin in mid-2028. In addition to the combat vehicles themselves, the contract includes associated protection modules and storage containers, supporting long-term fleet availability and logistical readiness.
Framework contract expansion and upgrade roadmap
The amendment expands a framework contract originally awarded in May 2023, which included an initial order of 50 Puma IFVs. With the current extension, the total number of newly ordered vehicles under the framework rises to 200 units.
A further contract amendment is planned for mid-2026 to introduce the so-called S2 configuration. This upgrade stage is intended to address component obsolescence and add new operational capabilities. Planned enhancements include counter-unmanned aerial system measures, leveraging solutions derived from the turret architecture of the Jackal armoured vehicle, reflecting the increasing relevance of drone threats on the modern battlefield.
Role of the Puma in German armoured infantry operations
The Puma IFV is the primary weapon system of Germany’s armoured infantry forces. It is designed to carry a crew of three—commander, gunner, and driver—along with six dismounted soldiers. The vehicle combines modular ballistic and mine protection with digital connectivity that supports coordinated, networked operations alongside other combat platforms.
Its design emphasises survivability, mobility, and integration into combined-arms formations, aligning with NATO operational concepts for mechanised infantry units.
Parallel modernisation of the existing fleet
In parallel with the new procurement, the Bundeswehr is undertaking a comprehensive modernisation programme for 297 Puma vehicles already in service that do not meet the S1 series standard. This retrofit programme, commissioned between 2023 and 2024 and scheduled for completion by 2029, includes the integration of high-resolution day and night vision systems, the MELLS multi-role guided missile capability, and updated digital radio equipment.
Together, the new-build vehicles and the ongoing retrofit programme are intended to standardise capabilities across the Puma fleet, improve interoperability, and ensure operational relevance over the coming decades.
By expanding its Puma inventory while simultaneously upgrading existing platforms, the Bundeswehr is pursuing a dual-track approach focused on capacity growth and technological relevance within its mechanised infantry forces.
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