The Puma is regarded as the Bundeswehr’s technological flagship. Around 350 vehicles, built by Rheinmetall and KNDS, have been in service since 2013. Knut Müller, Senior Vice President for Government Business at Rolls-Royce, said: “This order is a milestone. The Puma’s powerpack is unique in its compactness and power density – effectively the Formula 1 engine of tank propulsion systems. With the new powerpacks, we are making a significant contribution to the Bundeswehr’s operational readiness and modernisation, whilst at the same time strengthening European defence capabilities through scalable, proven technologies.”
The mtu PowerPack brings together everything that powers the Puma: the 10V 890, a highly compact ten-cylinder engine delivering 800 kilowatts of power and featuring an 11-litre displacement, new power electronics, an optimised cooling system, and the RENK HSWL 256 gearbox as the central element of the powertrain and driving dynamics. The system is complemented by further integrated subsystems. Another new feature is a coarse dust blower that reliably removes sand and fine particles from the airflow – a decisive advantage in desert regions and rough terrain. The system combines high performance, compactness and robustness: characteristics that have emerged from decades of experience in military propulsion technology.