PUMA IFV - The most advanced infantry fighting vehicle in the world

A deep dive into its secrets and technical details

Recommended Literature

The diffrent Models

Prototype
- Prototype with Fuel tanks as side armor
Puma Batch 1
- Puma S1

- Puma JVTF 2023
Puma Batch 2

Difference Prototype - Serial production

Crew Interface

Hull Rear

Mine Plate

AMAP-IED

Frontal Armor

Lower Frontal Armor

Side Armor

Mutiple diffrent side armor moduels have been developed for the IFV Puma

Prototype

Prototype Final Tested by the Bundeswehr

Prototype with Fuel tanks as side armor

Serial Production Batch 1

CLARA ERA

from DND about CLARA when tested on the MRAP Fennek: "Integrated passive component reduces damage to the vehicle" "Resulting in a protection increase by KE threats: 14.5mm (to STANAG-4569 level 5)

so a combined armor (flat) of 30mm (~80mm at 30° vs APDS) Fennek with CLARA is STANAG-4569 level 5: I.e. a Fennek MRAP could stop 25mm APDS (M791) from +-30° frontal angle at 500meters just with CLARA mounted. so the original CLARA (without Ultrax) provided a minimum of (30mm - fennek armor) = ~20mm RHAe later for the Marder the new Passive solution was suggested: CLARA with Ultrax as passive component. This changed it CLARA from STANAG level 5 to level 6 according to DND so to 57mm (~115mm at 30° vs APFSDS) now this might include the marders base armor is ~15mm that would put the passive value of CLARA with UltraX at ~42mm So based on this the passive component of CLARA on the Puma should round about provide 40mm RHAe

DND CLARA - Leclerc DND CLARA - UltraX

French

Driver Armor

Sloped Distance --> more armor needed

Roof Armor

[...] we have developed and mass-produced roof protection elements for PzH 2000, Leopard 2 MBT, IFV Puma and GTK Boxer [...] KE, CE and EFP threats for medium and heavy combat vehicles. https://geke-gst.de/leistungen Beispielsweise ermöglicht es der Dachschutz „IGEL“ der derzeit bei der PzH 2000 oder auch beim SPz PUMA eingesetzt wird. Der Dachschutz „Igel“ besteht aus einem sogenannten elastischen Störkörperfell, das speziell zum Schutz des Fahrzeugdaches gegen Streumunition in Form von Bomblets konzipiert wurde [...] Ein Schutz gegen Artilleriesplitter und KE-Geschosse

Webarchive: AMAP™-R The ultralight Roof Protection Concept
Für den Schützenpanzer PUMA fertigen und liefern wir in Serie die Minenschutzplatte, alle Dachschutzelemente gegen die Bombletbedrohung und Beulblechverbundplatten [...] Dachschutzelemente für die Panzerhaubitze 2000 und den Kampfpanzer LEOPARD 2# https://www.linkedin.com/company/geke-schutztechnik/about/
https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/549501-puma-ifv-roof-armor-amap-r-does-not-offer-projection-against-efps/