The German general announced the unsuitability of the latest German Puma infantry fighting vehicles for operation due to failure during the exercises
The latest German infantry fighting vehicles Puma proved unusable and broke down during the exercises of the Bundeswehr. This was announced by the commander of the 10th tank division of Major General Ruprecht von Butler.
The German general wrote an angry letter addressed to the leadership of the Bundeswehr and the German Ministry of Defense. According to him, 18 new Puma infantry fighting vehicles were involved in the exercises of the German army, which should go into service with the NATO Rapid Reaction Force next year. During the eight days of the exercises, all BMPs fell into disrepair, the main reason was the electronics, which simply could not withstand the operating conditions.
The Bundeswehr said they were aware of the existing problems with the equipment, but they did not arise "with such frequency." At the same time, BMPs were moved only to shooting ranges in the lowlands of Northern Germany and "were not subjected to excessive load." The last two infantry fighting vehicles participating in the exercises at the training center of the armored forces also failed.
von Butler said.
Problems in the Puma infantry fighting vehicle in the Bundeswehr have been announced for a long time, the car even received the nickname "problem child" in the German army. In 2023, Germany will take over command of the NATO Rapid Response Force, so the Bundeswehr promised to add a motorized infantry brigade with 40 Puma infantry fighting vehicles to them. However, due to the technical condition of the latest infantry fighting vehicles, it may turn out that German soldiers will have to transfer back to the Marder, which have been in service with the Bundeswehr since 1971.
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