Germany has 18 Puma BMPs worth $17 million out of service - the world's most expensive infantry fighting vehicle

Ukraine's chances of receiving Marder infantry fighting vehicles have approached zero. This is due to the simultaneous failure of all Puma infantry fighting vehicles, which are in service with the Bundeswehr.

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The Puma had chances to be the best infantry fighting vehicle in the world. It is equipped with an engine of 1000 horsepower, can reach speeds of 70 km/h, has an advanced on-board equipment. But it failed to meet expectations.

Deliveries began in 2015. Puma is already even called an emergency BMP because of a number of problems. For example, they cannot be transported by Airbus A400 aircraft due to their heavy weight. Last spring, the Bundeswehr deemed the Puma combat-ready, but now the decision will have to change.

Eighteen Puma combat vehicles malfunctioned at once during the exercise. In this regard, Germany froze the purchase of new BMPs and stopped the modernization of those already in service.

Although the Puma was not able to become the best infantry fighting vehicle in the world, no one is planning to take the title of the most expensive from it yet. The cost of one BMP is $17 million. German plans to send to Ukraine combat vehicles of the previous generation, the Marder, were associated with the renewal of the fleet. Now they are under threat.

Source: BMVg_Bundeswehr, DW
Image: Wikipedia