OK, Puma

We love the Puma and we know its history. We have stood on the production line and thought: “Ah, hand-carved…” We know the position of the client and the recipient as well as the manufacturer. And we know what both say behind closed doors about each other. But one person knows it much better: Wolfgang Schneider dedicates this documentary to the Puma, which is considered the most powerful and modern infantry fighting vehicle in the world. Filled with many detailed informations, development, technology, and deployment are described.

Since 2015, the Puma has replaced the older infantry fighting vehicle Marder and has established itself as the most advanced and powerful vehicle of its kind worldwide. 

Thanks to state-of-the-art digitalization, comprehensive networking, and highly developed optical, camera, and sensor systems, the Puma enables early reconnaissance of hidden targets – even at distances of up to three kilometers. With a weight of around 31 tons, which can increase to up to 50 tons with additional equipment, the vehicle offers its crew an unprecedented level of protection. 

It withstands mines, armor-piercing weapons, and homemade explosives – an extraordinary documentation of technical innovations and protection mechanisms that sets new standards. And with its 30mm cannon, the Puma also sets benchmarks, which are explained here. 

The book is, of course, a tank book, explaining not only the chassis and engine technology but also all the optical systems and onboard electronics. It is somewhat disappointing that it has a separate chapter on the electronics of the armored infantry, which, with the IdZ upgrade kit, works in harmony with the Puma in a way not seen before. 

CONCLUSION: The Puma book. A must-have for anyone interested in tanks, who finds military technology exciting, or simply wants to become an armored infantryman (who will get the equipment explained anyway). A standard work. SPARTANAT reading recommendation. 

“Infantry Fighting Vehicle Puma. Development, Technology, Deployment” by Wolfgang Schneider, Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 2025, 224 pages, 39.90 Euros – HERE directly from the publisher or at Amazon available. 

And there are also simply beautiful romantic images in the book. Soon, there will be really a lot of cats, as the Bundeswehr plans to increase to over 1,000 cats.