Rheinmetall has announced that the Bundeswehr has signed a revised agreement expanding the Puma Infantry Fighting Vehicle programme, significantly increasing fleet numbers via PSM, the Rheinmetall–KNDS Deutschland joint venture. Concluded at BAAINBw in Koblenz, the amendment sets the stage for a large procurement initiative that will take legal effect in January 2026, with deliveries beginning from 2028. The revised programme goes beyond numerical expansion, incorporating a structured upgrade roadmap aimed at countering technological obsolescence and responding to emerging threats, including the integration of drone-defence capabilities. The approach reflects a shift toward treating procurement and modernisation as a unified lifecycle activity.
The amended contract assigns PSM responsibility for supplying 200 Puma IFVs, with first deliveries planned for mid-2028. The overall procurement value is reported at €4.2 billion, shared equally between KNDS and Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH, each accounting for €2.1 billion. In addition to the combat vehicles, the agreement covers associated protection systems and storage containers, indicating a comprehensive acquisition strategy that factors in deployability and sustainment alongside platform delivery.
This latest expansion builds upon the framework contract awarded in May 2023, when BAAINBw placed an initial order for 50 Pumas under a long-term delivery agreement. That framework has now been broadened, with an additional amendment for the S2 build standard anticipated by mid-2026. Rheinmetall notes that the S2 configuration will address ageing components and introduce new operational capabilities, including counter-UAS measures, leveraging design elements from the Jackal armoured vehicle turret. Collectively, these developments frame the Puma programme as an evolving capability package, where fleet growth, protection solutions, and incremental upgrades are pursued in parallel rather than sequentially.
