Germany has taken a major step in strengthening its mechanized forces by awarding a €4.2-billion contract to the Rheinmetall/KNDS Deutschland partnership for 200 Puma infantry fighting vehicles equipped with the MELLS missile system. The program, with deliveries starting in 2028, embeds the Spike LR family of anti-tank guided missiles into the Puma fleet, allowing armored infantry units to engage heavily protected targets at extended distances. The baseline Spike LR offers a 4-kilometer reach, while the Spike LR2 adds greater standoff range and a tandem warhead optimized against advanced armor and fortified positions, including urban structures. By integrating these missiles, the Puma gains a decisive beyond-line-of-sight strike capability, improving both battlefield survivability and tactical dominance. As Germany’s principal infantry fighting vehicle, the Puma combines high mobility, modular armor, and advanced digital networking, operated by a crew of three with capacity for six infantry soldiers. The new procurement aligns with an ongoing fleet-wide modernization of nearly 300 vehicles, which includes upgraded sensors, communications, and missile systems, ensuring the Puma remains central to German armored doctrine well into the next decade.
