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Worldwide standards Kassel/Kiel. The new Puma infantry fighting vehicle demonstrates once again Germany’s paramount position in the domain of army technology. It sets the standard worldwide, as the following technical details make clear: ★ airportable in the future A400M transport plane; ★ rapid availability in the area of operations; The vehicle’s lightweight steel tracks, supplied by Diehl, also reduce its total weight. Newly developed and measuring some 26 meters, they weigh over 500 kg less than conventional tank tracks. The Puma’s innovative passive protection is matched by its state-of-theart armament and reconnaissance technology. “Early on in the project we decided that we couldn’t do without a glass optic”, recalls Hellmeister. The commander’s newly developed 360° periscope is made by Zeiss. It operates independently of the turret, transmitting images via a vertical glass channel to the interior of the vehicle, just as in a submarine. A glass fiber bundle transmits the image to the operator’s ocular; by means of a built-in camera, it also appears on a monitor. The commander and gunner can both use this image. In addition, images from the daylight camera and thermal imaging device can be called up on the monitor as required. The six infantrymen on board can also view the images on two monitors in the fighting compartment, enabling them to keep track of the situation as it unfolds. Furthermore, these images can also be transmitted to higher echelon elements and/or other vehicles, a crucial capability in Network-Centric Warfare. Many minds have collaborated in making the Puma the world’s most advanced IFV. “During the course of the project, the spirit of cooperation at PSM has been terrific”, exclaims Newsline Germany’s biggest procurement project right on schedule The Puma IFV is ready to pounce (Continued from page 7) Foto: Uwe Ullmann ★ modular armor elements; ★ a single compartment for all occupants; ★ a compact, newly developed, extremely powerful engine; ★ highly effective mine protection; ★ a remote-controlled turret; ★ efficient armament for engaging all types of targets; ★ suitable as a platform for future applications; ★ interfaces for future systems (friend/foe identification, etc.) Hellmeister. “What’s more”, he says, “PSM’s two parent companies have developednumerous interfaces that can directly communicate with each other. This has been instrumental in helping us keep to our ambitious timetable, which is unrivaled in the in- Helge Möller dustry.” The turret armament proved to be a tricky engineering task and is certainly the most eye-catching feature of the new German IFV. The central positioning of the fiber optic channel mean that the vehicle’s main armament, a 30mm automatic cannon made by RWM Oberndorf, is integrated off center in the turret. (Traditionally, the main armament is always placed in the center of a tank turret.) “If we’d put the gun in the middle of the turret, there wouldn’t have been enough room left on the hull for the hatches for the commander and the infantry section”, explains Hellmeister. In the end, the engineering team decided to place the turret off center as well, so that the main armament is aligned with the ve- 8 Technical data: ★ maximum design weight: 43 tons ★ weight (Protection Level A): 31.45 tons ★ weight (Protection Level C): 40.7 tons ★ crew: 9 (6+3); ★ maximum road speed: 70 kilometers per hour ★ power to weight ratio: 20 kW/t; ★ length: 7,330 mm ★ width: 3,430 mm ★ total height: 3,050 mm hicle’s central axis, giving the Puma its characteristic appearance. The gunner’s weapon sight is mounted next to the main armament, and rotates with it. This configuration gives the Puma a hunter-killer capability more typical of main battle tanks: if the commander detects an enemy target with the periscope, he transmits the image to the gunner; the turret automatically swings toward the target, which can be engaged while the commander looks for the next target with the independently operating periscope. When the Puma goes into series production in 2009, it will be accompanied by completely new training systems. “Until now, IFV training has taken place using simulators in containers. With the Puma, the crew will be trained in the actual vehicle. The necessary interfaces are already available. This means that troops can be trained in the area of operation to contend with special situations”, declares Hellmeister. “All in all”, he states, “the Puma is more than just an exceptionally futureproof IFV. It can serve as a platform for other systems such as air defence artillery, or as a lightweight armored recovery vehicle or light tank – there’s plenty of scope for expansion.” If Peter Hellmeister has his way, the Puma will be as successful as the Leopard 2 – and sell well abroad too. The Bundeswehr will take delivery of the first series produced Pumas in 2009. In all, the German Army plans to buy 410 units; the order is worth over € 3 billion. Detlev Karg
Newsline WELL POISED: The Kolbenschmidt Pierburg group was once again excellently represented at the 61st International Motor Show IAA which attracted around 940,000 visitors in September this year. Be it pistons, plain bearings, exhaust gas recirculation systems, oil, water, water circulation and vacuum pumps or intake manifolds, solenoid valves, engine blocks, engine bearings, secondary air systems, electrical actuators, control valves – many of the new models were equipped with advanced technologies from the Düsseldorf-based group. Newsline contributor Nils Mertens has collected just some of the many highlights exhibited at the recent Motor Show: VW Passat Variant, Jaguar Super 8, Alfa Romeo 147, Porsche Cayman S, Opel Vectra, Rolls Royce Phantom, Mercedes S-Class, Volvo C 70 Cabrio, Audi Q7, BMW 3 Touring and the Peugeot 107. Indeed, this year’s IAA once again set new standards: Automakers presented 122 innovations of which 80 were world premieres: German car makers alone presented 77 novelties, and the Chinese suppliers Geely, Brilliance and Landwind exhibited their products at the world’s most important mobility show for the first time. 9 Photos (11): Volkswagen, Jaguar, Audi, BMW group (2), Fiat, Porsche, DaimlerChrysler, Volvo, Opel und Peugeot.
Page 1 and 2: Appealing The Kolbenschmidt Pierbur
Page 3 and 4: Newsline Appealing IAA exhibits wit
Page 5 and 6: Photos (2): Airbus Industrie telero
Page 7: Rheinmetall in Düsseldorf and has
Page 11 and 12: Newsline Kolbenschmidt Pierburg in
Page 13 and 14: (Continued from page 12) tank crew
Page 15 and 16: Bremen. Interoperability is crucial
Page 17 and 18: The new EOD Cutlass, representing t

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